I had the opportunity to interview Chef Alli. I was so honored that Chef Alli was able to do this interview for my podcast. Chef Alli and I had a great time together! I hope you find this interview interesting in knowing how Chef Alli became who she is today. Also, below are two recipes that she mentions in the interview if you would like to try them this Thanksgiving.
Chef Alli's Sweet Potato Crisp
Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
4-5 large sweet potatoes, peeled, chunked and cooked until fork-tender
1/4 cup brown sugar + 1 Tbs. brown sugar, divided use
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 Granny Smith apple, skin on, diced
2/3 cup chopped fresh cranberries, smashed
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup whole oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans
1 tsp. orange zest
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth; beat in sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup brown sugar, & pumpkin pie spice. Spread sweet potato mixture into a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Top sweet potato mixture with chopped apple, cranberries; sprinkle 1 Tbs. brown sugar over apples and cranberries. In same large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar and pecans; cut butter into this mixture until crumbly. Crumble butter mixture over top of mixture in pan and spread out evenly. Zest orange and sprinkle zest over oat mixture. Bake uncovered, in preheated 350 degree over for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and hot throughout.
Chef Alli's Cranberry Walnut Dressing
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 Tbs. dried parsley
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts, toasted
1 lb. cubed bread or cornbread, dried or toasted
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 cups strong vegetable broth, divided use
Instructions:
In a large sauté pan over medium low heat, bloom spices for a few seconds, just until fragrant. Add butter to sauté pan and melt, stirring to incorporate with spices; add onions and celery and cook until tender, approx. 8-10 minutes. Stir in raisins, cranberries, walnuts, ad bread cubes; season with salt and pepper to taste. Place dressing into greased baking dish; pour 2 cups broth over all and toss to incorporate. Back, covered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, adding more broth during baking time if needed. Remove cover during last 10 minutes of baking time.
Recipe credit to:
Chef Alli
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Amanda's Fiesta Blend
I am constantly on the go and sometimes I don't have enough time to think about making dinner. So, whenever I come across something very quick and easy to make then that is what I end up making for dinner. This recipe (Amanda's Fiesta Blend) is something that I created myself one day because this is all that I had in the pantry and I was not going to go to the store.
Ingredients:
2-3 lbs of meat (I used hamburger)
Minced onion
Parsley
Black Pepper
Cumin
1 pkg of shredded cheese (I used Mozzarella and Colby Jack and Monterey)
Tortilla Chips
1 can of Rotel
1 can of Black Beans
Instructions:
1. In a large pot or skillet brown hamburger. Sprinkle minced onion, parsley, black pepper and cumin. Once the hamburger is finished browning drain it.
2. While the hamburger is browning, drain black beans.
3. After draining the hamburger, return it to the pot or skillet. Pour in Rotel and cheese. Mix well.
4. Next, crush tortilla chips and sprinkle more cheese over the top.
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Ingredients:
2-3 lbs of meat (I used hamburger)
Minced onion
Parsley
Black Pepper
Cumin
1 pkg of shredded cheese (I used Mozzarella and Colby Jack and Monterey)
Tortilla Chips
1 can of Rotel
1 can of Black Beans
(what you will need)
Instructions:
1. In a large pot or skillet brown hamburger. Sprinkle minced onion, parsley, black pepper and cumin. Once the hamburger is finished browning drain it.
(brown hamburger with minced onion, parsley, black pepper and cumin)
2. While the hamburger is browning, drain black beans.
(drain black beans)
3. After draining the hamburger, return it to the pot or skillet. Pour in Rotel and cheese. Mix well.
(mix hamburger, rotel and cheese together)
4. Next, crush tortilla chips and sprinkle more cheese over the top.
(crush tortilla chips)
(sprinkle more cheese)
5. Allow everything to melt together before serving.
(Enjoy!)
Cooking Tip:
I serve this with the extra chips and Velveeta cheese.
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Friday, November 15, 2013
Lemon Square Bars
People have always called me weird because I like to eat lemons. I can't tell you exactly why I like them so much but for some reason I just like them. Lemon Square Bars are so delicious. This recipe is a recipe that is very simple and quick to make.
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks of butter)
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5/8 cup lemon juice
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups sifted flour and confectioners' sugar. Blend in the melted butter.
3. Next, press mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.
4. Bake in over for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
5. In a small bowl, beat eggs until light. In a separate large bowl, combine sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 cup flour.
6. Pour in eggs and lemon juice. Mix together.
7. Pour over prepared crust and bake for another 30 minutes or until bars are set. Allow to cool and sprinkle confectioners' sugar over the top.
Ingredients:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks of butter)
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5/8 cup lemon juice
(What you will need)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups sifted flour and confectioners' sugar. Blend in the melted butter.
(blend together Flour and sugar)
(Blend in melted butter)
3. Next, press mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.
(press into greased 9x13 pan)
4. Bake in over for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
5. In a small bowl, beat eggs until light. In a separate large bowl, combine sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 cup flour.
(combine sugar, baking powder and flour)
(Pour in eggs and lemon juice)
(mix together)
7. Pour over prepared crust and bake for another 30 minutes or until bars are set. Allow to cool and sprinkle confectioners' sugar over the top.
(Enjoy!)
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodle Soup
Chicken and Noodle is one of my favorite soup. What I like so much about Chicken and Noodles is serving it on top of mashed potatoes. However, what I made for this post was not served with mashed potatoes because I forgot about making them. The other thing that I like about Chicken and Noodles is that it is very simple, quick and easy to make.
Ingredients:
4 cups of water
Half of a bag of carrots (I used already cut carrots)
8 teaspoons of bouillon
1 pkg of egg noodles
Chicken (I used already cooked chicken)
Instructions:
1. If your using already cooked chicken and it is sliced into strips, then you will need to thaw them and cut them into cubes.
2. Dump in half of the bag carrots and thawed chicken into the crock pot.
3. Sprinkle bouillon, minced onion and parsley.
4. Pour in water and mix well. Cook on high for about 3 hours.
Ingredients:
4 cups of water
Half of a bag of carrots (I used already cut carrots)
8 teaspoons of bouillon
1 pkg of egg noodles
Chicken (I used already cooked chicken)
(What you will need)
Instructions:
1. If your using already cooked chicken and it is sliced into strips, then you will need to thaw them and cut them into cubes.
2. Dump in half of the bag carrots and thawed chicken into the crock pot.
(Dump in carrots and chicken)
3. Sprinkle bouillon, minced onion and parsley.
(Sprinkle bouillon, minced onion and parsley)
4. Pour in water and mix well. Cook on high for about 3 hours.
(Pour in water and mix well)
5. About 1 1/2 hours before serving pour in egg noodles and mix well.
(Pour in noodles)
(Mix well)
6. Once the noodles are done allow to cool a little and serve.
(Enjoy!)
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Thanksgiving Traditions
Before today I had never done a podcast and to be honest I was a little nervous about it too. However, thanks to my partner, Liz, it was a great success and I had a great experience as well. Our podcast is about Thanksgiving Traditions. We talk about what our favorite dish and dessert are and what Thanksgiving reminds us about. I hope you enjoy our segment on Thanksgiving Traditions.
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup
When the weather changes from summer to fall that is the best time to make a pot of soup. I love it when I can make soup especially in the crock pot. There is just something about cooking soup in the crock pot that makes the soup taste so good. The other day I made Ham and Potato Soup in the crock pot and it was very yummy!
Ingredients:
1 cup of diced ham (can also use bacon)
1/4 cup finely chopped sautéed onion
2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed chicken broth
2 cups water
5 large potatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper (I used ground black pepper)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
Instructions:
1. Sauté the onion.
2. Dice the potatoes and ham into small cubes
3. Once the onion is sautéed and the potatoes and ham are cubed, place the ham, potatoes, salt, dried dill weed, black pepper and flour into the crock pot.
4. Next pour in chicken broth, water, half-and-half and evaporated milk. Mix together.
5. Sprinkle over the top a little parsley. This just makes it look pretty is all.
6. Cook on high for about 3-4 hours or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
Cooking Tip:
As you can see I changed a few things that this recipe called for since I did have them. Also, I did add a little more flour when the soup was finished cooking in order to make it a little thicker.
Recipe credit to:
www.allrecipes.com
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Ingredients:
1 cup of diced ham (can also use bacon)
1/4 cup finely chopped sautéed onion
2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed chicken broth
2 cups water
5 large potatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper (I used ground black pepper)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
(What you will need)
Instructions:
1. Sauté the onion.
(sauté the onion)
2. Dice the potatoes and ham into small cubes
(cube the potatoes)
(dice the ham)
3. Once the onion is sautéed and the potatoes and ham are cubed, place the ham, potatoes, salt, dried dill weed, black pepper and flour into the crock pot.
(place all dry ingredients into crock pot)
4. Next pour in chicken broth, water, half-and-half and evaporated milk. Mix together.
(pour all liquid ingredients into crock pot)
5. Sprinkle over the top a little parsley. This just makes it look pretty is all.
(Sprinkle parsley over the top)
6. Cook on high for about 3-4 hours or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.
(Enjoy!)
Cooking Tip:
As you can see I changed a few things that this recipe called for since I did have them. Also, I did add a little more flour when the soup was finished cooking in order to make it a little thicker.
Recipe credit to:
www.allrecipes.com
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Double Chocolate Brownies
Have you ever heard the saying "diamonds are a girls best friend?" Well, chocolate is my best friend! Whenever something has chocolate in it I have to try it. This recipe is called Double Chocolate Brownies. They are so yummy. The other reason why I love this recipe is because it is so easy to make. I hope you like them as much as I do.
Ingredients:
1 brownie mix (Family Size)
3 chocolate bars
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Make the brownies according to the directions on the box.
3. Once the brownies are well mixed, pour half of the brownie batter into a 9x13 pan.
4. Then place the 3 chocolate bars on top of half of the brownie batter.
5. Finally, pour in the rest of the brownie batter.
6. Bake according to the instructions on the brownie mix box.
Recipe credit to:
Taste and See Recipe Collection
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Ingredients:
1 brownie mix (Family Size)
3 chocolate bars
(What you will need)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Make the brownies according to the directions on the box.
(mix all ingredients together in a large bowl)
(mix batter well)
(pour half of batter into pan)
4. Then place the 3 chocolate bars on top of half of the brownie batter.
(place the 3 chocolate bars on top of first layer)
5. Finally, pour in the rest of the brownie batter.
(pour the rest of the brownies batter into the pan)
6. Bake according to the instructions on the brownie mix box.
(Enjoy!)
Recipe credit to:
Taste and See Recipe Collection
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Shepherd's Pie
There is just something about meatloaf and mashed potatoes being together. I think it might be how the flavor of the meat is cooked and melted into the mashed potatoes. My mom makes the best Shepherd's Pie and no one can make it how she does, even if they tried. I have tried and tried to make it just how she does but I never can.
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
2 lbs ground beef (or Turkey)
1 egg
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 cup milk
2 slices of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1/3 cup ketchup
salt and pepper to taste
Mashed Potatoes:
About 10 small to medium size peeled potatoes
1 1/2 cup milk (or until creamy)
salt and butter to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine meat, egg, minced onion, milk, bread crumbs, brown sugar, prepared mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper.
3. Once everything is mixed well, place mixture into a light greased 9x13 baking dish.
4. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, occasionally pouring the grease from the pan.
5. While the meatloaf is baking, start boiling the potatoes until you can easily poke the potatoes with a fork.
6. Once you can easily poke the potatoes with a fork drain them.
7. Place the pot of potatoes back onto the stove and mix in milk, butter and salt to taste. Beat until creamy.
8. After the meatloaf has been baking for about 30-40 minutes, spread mashed potatoes over the top and bake it for another 5-10 minutes.
9. When the meatloaf and mashed potatoes have been baking for 5-10 minutes, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of mashed potatoes and bake it for another 5 minutes.
10. Once the Shepherd's Pie is finished baking, let it cool completely before serving.
Cooking Tip:
Make sure to pour out the grease from the ground beef occasionally or the Shepherd's Pie will not be very tasty. Also, when the Shepherd's Pie is finished baking check to make sure the center of it is completely cooked all the way through.
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Ingredients
Meatloaf:
2 lbs ground beef (or Turkey)
1 egg
2 tablespoons minced onion
1 cup milk
2 slices of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1/3 cup ketchup
salt and pepper to taste
(What you will need)
Mashed Potatoes:
About 10 small to medium size peeled potatoes
1 1/2 cup milk (or until creamy)
salt and butter to taste
(What you will need)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine meat, egg, minced onion, milk, bread crumbs, brown sugar, prepared mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper.
(Combine all ingredients)
(Mix all ingredients well with your hands)
Note: You hands are your best utensils.
3. Once everything is mixed well, place mixture into a light greased 9x13 baking dish.
(Place mixture into a lightly greased baking pan)
4. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, occasionally pouring the grease from the pan.
5. While the meatloaf is baking, start boiling the potatoes until you can easily poke the potatoes with a fork.
(Boil potatoes until softened)
6. Once you can easily poke the potatoes with a fork drain them.
7. Place the pot of potatoes back onto the stove and mix in milk, butter and salt to taste. Beat until creamy.
(Mix in butter, salt, and milk to taste and is creamy)
(Beat until creamy)
8. After the meatloaf has been baking for about 30-40 minutes, spread mashed potatoes over the top and bake it for another 5-10 minutes.
(Spread mashed potatoes over the top of meatloaf and cook for 5-10 minutes)
9. When the meatloaf and mashed potatoes have been baking for 5-10 minutes, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of mashed potatoes and bake it for another 5 minutes.
(Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of mashed potatoes)
10. Once the Shepherd's Pie is finished baking, let it cool completely before serving.
(Enjoy!)
Cooking Tip:
Make sure to pour out the grease from the ground beef occasionally or the Shepherd's Pie will not be very tasty. Also, when the Shepherd's Pie is finished baking check to make sure the center of it is completely cooked all the way through.
Recipe credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Photo credit to:
Amanda Del Toro
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
My Favorite Type of Food/Restaurant...
I don't know what it is about Italian food that I love so much. Maybe it is all the carbs? Even though I am Mexican-American, Italian food seems to be what my family and I love to cook and eat. I sometimes fantasize about living in Italy just so I could eat the food. Alright, maybe that is a little overboard but hey, a girl can dream right?
I absolutely love going to Olive Garden and ordering their Five Cheese Ziti al Forno. It has ziti pasta, which is basically a hollow round noodle. The zita pasta is smothered in a five cheese marinara sauce that is baked with a layer of melted Italian cheeses. It is delizioso! Their soup is pretty delectable as well. My favorite type of soup from Olive Garden is Pasta e Fagioli. This soup consists of white and red beans, ground beef, tomatoes and pasta in a spicy, salty broth.
The next best thing at Olive Garden is their endless breadsticks and salad. There is something about their breadsticks that makes you not want to stop eating them. They are definitely mouthwatering.
So, with all this said I hope the next time you are craving Italian food go to Olive Garden and order their Five Cheese Ziti al Forno and Pasta e Fagioli soup. You won't be disappointed.
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I absolutely love going to Olive Garden and ordering their Five Cheese Ziti al Forno. It has ziti pasta, which is basically a hollow round noodle. The zita pasta is smothered in a five cheese marinara sauce that is baked with a layer of melted Italian cheeses. It is delizioso! Their soup is pretty delectable as well. My favorite type of soup from Olive Garden is Pasta e Fagioli. This soup consists of white and red beans, ground beef, tomatoes and pasta in a spicy, salty broth.
The next best thing at Olive Garden is their endless breadsticks and salad. There is something about their breadsticks that makes you not want to stop eating them. They are definitely mouthwatering.
So, with all this said I hope the next time you are craving Italian food go to Olive Garden and order their Five Cheese Ziti al Forno and Pasta e Fagioli soup. You won't be disappointed.
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