Monday, April 25, 2011

Vareniky

vareniky ready to eat
top view looking down

vareniky cooking
Ingredients:
1 lb dry curd cottage cheese * (no you cannot take regular cottage cheese and put it in a strainer)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks

In separate bowl:
2 eggs 
2 egg whites lightly beaten
1 cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour  Or Gluten Free flour blend plus 2 ¼ teaspoon xathan gum



1st part. cheese mixture: Mix first 3 ingredients until cottage cheese is in fine curds (use hands for best results). Set aside.

2nd part. the dough: mix together the egg, whites, sour cream, salt and flour adding flour as necessary-until dough is stiff enough to roll out. Turn onto floured board. Roll out half of the dough 1/8" thick and cut into squares or circles about 5" in diameter. Place 1 well rounded tablespoon of cottage cheese mixture on each circle in in the center of the square and fold over to form a half circle. Pinch edges firmly. Repeat till all used.
In a sauce pan boil 4-6 cups of water add 1 teaspoon of salt. Drop Vareniky into boiling water (several at a time) Cook for 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Keep hot

Serve with a cream gravy or as our family did with a little melted butter sprinkled with some sugar.
  * Note:  Dry curd cottage cheese is also called Farmers cheese or Hoop cheese and can be found at specialty stores that cater to the German/Russian communities or some health food stores have it too. 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Chicken Taquitos

I was in a wild mood this morning so I decided to make up some chicken taquitos....
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
corn taco shells
conola or other type of cooking oil

put the 4 chicken breasts into a pan cover with water, boil for 30 minutes or until done and tender...in the water put in the spices so that the chicken will absorb all the flavor. Aftercooking break up the chicken into small strips or chunks.

in a small skillet heat about 1 tablespoon of oil... place taco shell in the hot oil turn once (usually about 20-30 sec per side...) remove taco shell from oil place on paper towels add small amout of chicken then roll up and place on cookie sheet or lipped pan. Can be frozen in zip lock bags to save for later.

To heat place taquitos in about 1/2" of hot oil cook about 3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy, serve with your favorite sauce,  quacamole, sour cream and or cheese.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Pineapple Chicken

Pineapple Chicken


Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup water
1 20oz can of pineapple chunks packed in own juice- reserve the juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast cup into 1" cubes


In a pan put in cut up pieces of chicken covered with water…cook until done and tender.

In a sauce pan mix the sugar and cornstarch add pineapple juice, water and vinegar. Heat over medium heat stirring constantly till clear and thick.

Stir in the cooked meat, pineapple chunks. Cook together for about 10 minutes till done or heated through.

Serve over hot rice, or quinoa

Serves 4
Pineapple chicken served over quinoa

Heating up the pineapple chicken

quinoa with fresh chives