Carnitas

Carnitas is not a particular cut of meat but a process of cooking the meat slowly and can be used with all meats but pork has been the main type of meat used for carnitas.

Ingredients

1 4-5 pound pork shoulder or butt roast w/ bone
3 tablespoons shorting or better, bacon grease
1-2 tablespoons salt
2-3 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2-3 cups of water

Directions

Place shorting/bacon grease in large fry pan on med low setting
Season one side of pork roast and place in pan on seasoned side
Let cook for 15-20 minutes
Season the next side and turn until all *6 sides are seasoned and browned
*If you can’t do the ends or only one don’t worry
Once all sides are browned remove from pan and slice off all the meat from the bone
Season the cut uncooked portions and return to pan to brown
Place in dutch oven, or other lidded cooking dish, add water to almost cover the meat and cook at 300 degrees F for 2-3 hours

Place meat in bowl and using two forks shred meat
Place shredded meat in a single layer on a sheet pan and broil for 5 minutes, turn and broil for another 5 minutes making the ends brown and crispy
Meat is ready for tacos or any dish that calls for carnitas

Chicken Baked with Basil & Garlic

I love roasted chicken. The skin, the worst part for you, is almost as good as fried bacon! I roast on average two chickens a month and there's a wealth of different seasonings you can use. Rosemary, in place of the basil, is also wonderful.

Ingredients

1 4-5 pound whole chicken
1 tablespoon basil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

Remove neck and giblets from chicken
Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry
Place chicken, chicken breast side up, in a roasting pan
Place 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon seasoning salt inside chicken
Sprinkle the rest of the seasonings over the chicken
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes per pound or until an internal temperature of 180 degrees F is achieved

Swai Fillets Baked

Swai (pronounced  Swy ) are farm-raised catfish from Vietnam and have a firm flesh and delicate taste. Swai (from Thai: plaa sawaaj ) or striped catfish in the food fish market are also known as Iridescent Shark - Pangasius hypophthalmus, Siamese shark or Sutchi Catfish in the aquarium hobby. The species is found in Southeast Asia in the Mekong basin as well as the Chao Phraya river and is heavily cultivated for food there.

I’ve kept these shy fish in an aquarium many years ago but could never eat a fish I’ve kept as a pet. I’ve also kept largemouth bass, bluegill, Tilapia and channel catfish. I’ve eaten them all but never from the aquarium!





Ingredients

2 6-8 oz Swai fillets
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 cup dry Chardonnay

Directions

Rinse and pat dry fillets
Coat bottom of cooking dish with 1 tablespoon evoo and 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Place fillets in dish and turn over coating both sides
Add melted butter and wine and sprinkle on garlic powder and celery salt
Cook at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes

Serve with brussel sprouts or artichoke, wild rice, and a chilled bottle of Clos du Bois Chardonnay, and no, they’re not paying me to say that (although I wish they would - hint hint).

Home Made Pizza

Anyone can order a pizza and have it delivered but few can match the taste and smell of home made. The type of toppings are almost endless, I’ve even put pickles on top. This is one of my personal favorites.


Ingredients

1 cup marinara sauce
½ pound grated mozzarella cheese
Toppings of choice

Crust

1 ½ cup sourdough starter
1 ½ cup flour
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Mix sourdough starter with flour and salt into a workable dough (add more flour or water by tablespoon if needed) and knead for 6-8 minutes and let rest 20 minutes
Roll out dough into a 1/8-1/4 inch thick round and place on greased pizza pan
Spread top of dough with EVOO or it will become soggy
Add marinara sauce, cheese and toppings
Cook at 450 degrees F for 20 minutes

Almond Cookies

Who doesn’t love almond cookies? Unfortunately the almonds I had on hand were stale so I had to make this batch without the almonds. No matter, they were still wonderful. This is another one of granny’s famous recipes.



Ingredients

1 cup rice flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup blanched almonds

Directions

In 2 qt bowl mix softened butter and sugar
Add egg, almond extract and baking powder
Add rice flour, mix until well blended
Place bowl in freezer for 20-30 minutes
Roll dough into 1 inch balls then flatten by hand and place on greased baking sheet
Place 1/2 almond on top of each
Cook for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F
Move cookies to wire rack to cool
*You can brush with egg yolk for glazed effect

Makes approx. 16 cookies