Don't know if you are into these orange, funny looking things, but they are great vegetables. Here are some ideas:
Sweet potato baked or mashed - prick holes in 1 or 2 sweet potatoes using a fork (you don't need so many, just a few so it doesn't explode in the oven) and put on an oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour, until they seem soft and edible when you prick them with a fork. (Because of the long cooking time, put these in BEFORE you get hungry.) Bigger potatoes will need to cook longer. When they're soft and ready, put it on a plate and you can slit it down the middle and put butter or margarine in with some salt or brown sugar and eat as is, really good. Or you can slit them, take out the sweet potato innards and put them in a bowl and mash with a fork. Then add the same things. It is very good warm, not so good cold.
Sweet Potato Pie - Once you have 1 big or 2 medium sweet potatoes that are cooked, mash them in a bowl and add 2 eggs, 1/2 c brown sugar (you can estimate, this doesn't need to be exact), a couple spoonfuls of oil or margarine, a few shakes of cinnamon (if you have, not completely necessary) and some soy milk or regular milk. Try 1/4 of a cup, or a few spoonfuls. Add a dash of salt (a tiny bit!). Mix together well and pour into a greased pan or an already-made pie crust where it will taste much better. You can use a real pie crust that you buy in the freezer, or a graham cracker crust that you get in the baking aisle. If you're not scared of salmonella (which I'm not, and I'm pregnant, but maybe you're buying unpasteurized eggs being that you're back in Berkeley) you can taste the mixture before you put it in the pie crust and make sure you like how it tastes - enough sugar, cinnamon or salt, and a good texture. Bake this concoction in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes to an hour, or until it starts to smell good and a knife stuck into the middle comes out clean (with no orange smushes on it.) Yummy! This will impress all the ladies.
Cajun Sweet Potato Fries (definitely try this one.) --
Wash 3 large or 4 medium sweet potatoes, and cut into sticks so they look like thick french fries. Place the potato sticks into a greased baking pan or on a greased cookie sheet. (To grease a pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray, or use a margarine wrapper with margarine still on it, or just pour a tiny bit of oil into the pan and spread around with a paper towl.) In a cup or a bowl, mix the following - 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon pepper, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 3/4 teaspoon cumin, and a dash of cayenne pepper if you have it. If you have chili powder, that works too. If you don't have either, don't worry about it. And if you don't have measuring spoons, just do your best, remembering that a teaspoon is not so much, about a fourth of a soup spoon. Mix that together in a bowl, and pour over the potato sticks. Stir so everything is mixed evenly, then bake in the oven for 1 hour at 425 degrees (yes, this is higher than usual) or a little longer until crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Take these out it they start to burn.
Yummy!!! Eat with ketchup!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Veggie Ideas - Tomatoes
So now that you're stocking up on all those California veggies, let's start with some easy things to do with them:
Tomatoes
Idea 1 - Broiled tomatoes - rinse and dry, then cut off the top 1/6th of the tomato so that you get rid of the green part but the top is flat and even. See photo below. With a spoon, gently try to scrape out some of the seeds and inside of the tomato, without damaging the outside. This may be difficult, so just try to get out as much as you can. Then, dump in some bread crumbs, flavored if you have them (if you don't, just add some basil and/or oregano, yummy herbs) and scatter grated cheese (or just chunks of cheese) on top of that. Cook in the oven for a few minutes until cheese has melted.
Idea 2 - tomato salad - slice tomatoes as thin or as thick as you want, put on a plate and drizzle with oil (use very little), sprinkle with vinegar or lemon juice, add a little salt and pepper, and enjoy. This is a quick, filling and nutritious snack.
Idea 3 - pizza bagel (do you know how to make this? This is the best. Mom makes this all the time.) - Slice a tomato and put one or two slices on half a bagel. Sprinkle some dried basil on top. Basil is crucial for this to taste better than dorm food. On top of that, put a thick slice of cheese. You can even sprinkle some more basil on the cheese, it will make it look pretty. Bake in the oven until cheese is all warm and melty.
Idea 4 - tuna melt - this is also really good, but requires having tuna and mayo in the house. Once you have some tuna prepared (just smush a little mayo in the tuna can and crush and mix with a fork), spoon some onto half of a bagel, and put a slice or two of tomato on top. Don't put basil on this, it will taste weird. Cover with a thick slice of cheese and bake in the oven til warm and melty. A good and filling lunch.
Idea 5 - tomato and olive salad - cut up some tomatoes in a bowl and add some olives You can cut up some pickles instead of olives. Eat. This will flavor the tomatoes and make a nice salad.
Miss you! Love, Rachel
Tomatoes
Idea 1 - Broiled tomatoes - rinse and dry, then cut off the top 1/6th of the tomato so that you get rid of the green part but the top is flat and even. See photo below. With a spoon, gently try to scrape out some of the seeds and inside of the tomato, without damaging the outside. This may be difficult, so just try to get out as much as you can. Then, dump in some bread crumbs, flavored if you have them (if you don't, just add some basil and/or oregano, yummy herbs) and scatter grated cheese (or just chunks of cheese) on top of that. Cook in the oven for a few minutes until cheese has melted.
Idea 2 - tomato salad - slice tomatoes as thin or as thick as you want, put on a plate and drizzle with oil (use very little), sprinkle with vinegar or lemon juice, add a little salt and pepper, and enjoy. This is a quick, filling and nutritious snack.
Idea 3 - pizza bagel (do you know how to make this? This is the best. Mom makes this all the time.) - Slice a tomato and put one or two slices on half a bagel. Sprinkle some dried basil on top. Basil is crucial for this to taste better than dorm food. On top of that, put a thick slice of cheese. You can even sprinkle some more basil on the cheese, it will make it look pretty. Bake in the oven until cheese is all warm and melty.
Idea 4 - tuna melt - this is also really good, but requires having tuna and mayo in the house. Once you have some tuna prepared (just smush a little mayo in the tuna can and crush and mix with a fork), spoon some onto half of a bagel, and put a slice or two of tomato on top. Don't put basil on this, it will taste weird. Cover with a thick slice of cheese and bake in the oven til warm and melty. A good and filling lunch.
Idea 5 - tomato and olive salad - cut up some tomatoes in a bowl and add some olives You can cut up some pickles instead of olives. Eat. This will flavor the tomatoes and make a nice salad.
Miss you! Love, Rachel
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Single Frying Pan Meals - Part 1 - Casadias
With your limited arsenal, here are some quick meal ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner using, you guessed it, one frying pan and the one kashered burner in Aunt Sarah's house.
For all of the below, you need flour tortillas, margarine or oil, and a spatula. You know the basic drill - heat the margarine or oil on low flame, put the filling on one half of the tortilla and fold the tortilla over, then cook on each side for 2-3 minutes. Below are different fillings and how to prepare them:
Pizza Casadias
tomato sauce or ketchup and grated cheese (or just little chunks or slices of cheese, any flavor, no need to be fancy)
Vegetable Casadias
Use sliced tomato, chopped red pepper, zuchinni sliced VERY thin or green onion chopped, sprinkle on the casadia with cheese or scrambled egg if you want. For other vegetables like spinach, broccoli and onion (not sure if you eat these anyway) you will need to cook them first in a little bit of oil.
Scrambled Egg Casadias
Check, beat and scramble two eggs by cooking on the frying pan in a little oil and stirring frequently. Then plop them inside the tortilla and cook as above.
Cheese Casadias
grated, little chunks, any flavor, or mix a few flavors. Sprinkle right in.
Burrito Casadias
Get a can of black or brown beans (any kosher kind, no flavor needed) and mash about half the can in a bowl using a fork. Then plop that in a tortilla with some cheese and a tiny bit of tomato sauce or ketchup. Yum! Cook as directed.
For all of the below, you need flour tortillas, margarine or oil, and a spatula. You know the basic drill - heat the margarine or oil on low flame, put the filling on one half of the tortilla and fold the tortilla over, then cook on each side for 2-3 minutes. Below are different fillings and how to prepare them:
Pizza Casadias
tomato sauce or ketchup and grated cheese (or just little chunks or slices of cheese, any flavor, no need to be fancy)
Vegetable Casadias
Use sliced tomato, chopped red pepper, zuchinni sliced VERY thin or green onion chopped, sprinkle on the casadia with cheese or scrambled egg if you want. For other vegetables like spinach, broccoli and onion (not sure if you eat these anyway) you will need to cook them first in a little bit of oil.
Scrambled Egg Casadias
Check, beat and scramble two eggs by cooking on the frying pan in a little oil and stirring frequently. Then plop them inside the tortilla and cook as above.
Cheese Casadias
grated, little chunks, any flavor, or mix a few flavors. Sprinkle right in.
Burrito Casadias
Get a can of black or brown beans (any kosher kind, no flavor needed) and mash about half the can in a bowl using a fork. Then plop that in a tortilla with some cheese and a tiny bit of tomato sauce or ketchup. Yum! Cook as directed.
Monday, June 29, 2009
How to clean a bathroom
What you need:
Toilet
Sprinkle Ajax judiciously (that means A Lot) all over the toilet - on the sides, in the bowl, on the top and handle, on the seat, on the cover, under the seat, wherever you see ceramic. Get the sponge very wet and wash all the parts of the toilet, until Ajax dissolves along with the dirt. Keep getting the sponge wet. Brush off remaining water onto the floor.
Sink
Sprinke Ajax all over the sink, on the knobs, the basin, and everywhere else. Get sponge wet and keep water runing until all Ajax and toothpasted and dirt spots are removed and it is sparkly clean.
Floor
Wash this last. Sprinkle Ajax all over the floor, then get your sponge or mop wet and scrub all over. Keep getting your sponge or mop wet until the floor is very clean and very wet. Use a dirty towel to wipe up the water and stay away from the bathroom for an hour.
Shower
Sprinkle Ajax all over the shower and the knobs and scrub. Pour water all over it until Ajax goes away.
Walls, Mirror, etc.
With a wet sponge, just wipe and wash wherever it is dirty. Dry with a dirty towel so the walls don't rot and the mirror doesn't get streaks.
How to keep it smelling nice
Keep the window or door open to let air in, and spray febreeze once a week.
- Ajax (a really cheap cleaner, white and powdery and comes in a can. You can buy at any supermarket and probably at any drug store)
- Sponges - preferably with a hard side so you can scrub
- Dirty towel
- If you're rich or fancy, you can also buy a mop
Toilet
Sprinkle Ajax judiciously (that means A Lot) all over the toilet - on the sides, in the bowl, on the top and handle, on the seat, on the cover, under the seat, wherever you see ceramic. Get the sponge very wet and wash all the parts of the toilet, until Ajax dissolves along with the dirt. Keep getting the sponge wet. Brush off remaining water onto the floor.
Sink
Sprinke Ajax all over the sink, on the knobs, the basin, and everywhere else. Get sponge wet and keep water runing until all Ajax and toothpasted and dirt spots are removed and it is sparkly clean.
Floor
Wash this last. Sprinkle Ajax all over the floor, then get your sponge or mop wet and scrub all over. Keep getting your sponge or mop wet until the floor is very clean and very wet. Use a dirty towel to wipe up the water and stay away from the bathroom for an hour.
Shower
Sprinkle Ajax all over the shower and the knobs and scrub. Pour water all over it until Ajax goes away.
Walls, Mirror, etc.
With a wet sponge, just wipe and wash wherever it is dirty. Dry with a dirty towel so the walls don't rot and the mirror doesn't get streaks.
How to keep it smelling nice
Keep the window or door open to let air in, and spray febreeze once a week.
Cooking Chicken
Kosher chicken can be gross because sometimes there are still feathers left on it, but it is actually the healthiest around (usually.) Here are some easy and quick ways to cook chicken with and without bones. Do you know how to buy chicken in the store? If not, we'll cover that in another post. Most of these tips are courtesy of Robbie.
Important: You do not need to wash the chicken!! Despite whatever Mom may say, research shows it is safer to cook chicken as is rather than wash and dry raw chicken and risk getting the germs all over the place.
Boneless Chicken Breasts - in the oven
(You can make all these variations on the frying pan or on a foreman grill. Prepare the chicken as it says in the variation, but instead of putting in a pan and cooking in the oven, either put it on a frying pan covered with oil and cook on both sides over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes, or put on the foreman grill and you can judge when it's done.)
Cut chicken into small pieces and put in a pan with oil in it. Pour barbecue sauce all over (not too much) and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. You can also microwave it on medium high for 4-6 minutes, though we would all be disappointed if you stooped to microwaving (just kidding! Do whatever's easiest.)
Cut chicken into small pieces (the smaller the pieces the quicker it cooks) and soak in a bowl of lemon juice for 20 minutes or as long as you want. Take the chicken pieces and dip it into a bowl of 2-3 eggs that are beaten up, then dip them in a bowl of matzah meal or bread crumbs. Put in a pan with oil and pour oil on top of the chicken. Bake for 25-35 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Cut chicken into small pieces and dip into a bowl with 2-3 eggs beaten in it. Put chicken in a pan with oil in it. Mix bread crumbs or matzah meal with tomato sauce (or ketchup if don't have tomato sauce) and pour on top of the chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.
Chicken in General (with bones, or whatever chicken pieces you have)
Put chicken in a pan and pour barbecue sauce on it. Cook in 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes.
Put chicken in a pan and pour Sweet and Sour Duck Sauce on it. Cook in 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes.
Soak chicken in lemon juice , then dip chicken in flour, egg, and matzah meal or bread crumbs. Put in pan, drizzle oil all over and under it and bake in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes.
Pour soy sauce over chicken. In a bowl, mix a bunch of flour with sesame seeds. Dip chicken into the flour mixture until it is all covered, then put in a pan and drizzle oil all over it. Cook at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.
Put chicken in a pan with oil in it. In a bowl, mix nearly a cup of honey, a fourth cup soy sauce, a fourth cup of oil and a few shakes of garlic powder and black pepper. Pour the sauce over chicken and cook for an hour.
Important: You do not need to wash the chicken!! Despite whatever Mom may say, research shows it is safer to cook chicken as is rather than wash and dry raw chicken and risk getting the germs all over the place.
Boneless Chicken Breasts - in the oven
(You can make all these variations on the frying pan or on a foreman grill. Prepare the chicken as it says in the variation, but instead of putting in a pan and cooking in the oven, either put it on a frying pan covered with oil and cook on both sides over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes, or put on the foreman grill and you can judge when it's done.)
Cut chicken into small pieces and put in a pan with oil in it. Pour barbecue sauce all over (not too much) and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes. You can also microwave it on medium high for 4-6 minutes, though we would all be disappointed if you stooped to microwaving (just kidding! Do whatever's easiest.)
Cut chicken into small pieces (the smaller the pieces the quicker it cooks) and soak in a bowl of lemon juice for 20 minutes or as long as you want. Take the chicken pieces and dip it into a bowl of 2-3 eggs that are beaten up, then dip them in a bowl of matzah meal or bread crumbs. Put in a pan with oil and pour oil on top of the chicken. Bake for 25-35 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Cut chicken into small pieces and dip into a bowl with 2-3 eggs beaten in it. Put chicken in a pan with oil in it. Mix bread crumbs or matzah meal with tomato sauce (or ketchup if don't have tomato sauce) and pour on top of the chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.
Chicken in General (with bones, or whatever chicken pieces you have)
Put chicken in a pan and pour barbecue sauce on it. Cook in 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes.
Put chicken in a pan and pour Sweet and Sour Duck Sauce on it. Cook in 350 degree oven for 55-65 minutes.
Soak chicken in lemon juice , then dip chicken in flour, egg, and matzah meal or bread crumbs. Put in pan, drizzle oil all over and under it and bake in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes.
Pour soy sauce over chicken. In a bowl, mix a bunch of flour with sesame seeds. Dip chicken into the flour mixture until it is all covered, then put in a pan and drizzle oil all over it. Cook at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.
Put chicken in a pan with oil in it. In a bowl, mix nearly a cup of honey, a fourth cup soy sauce, a fourth cup of oil and a few shakes of garlic powder and black pepper. Pour the sauce over chicken and cook for an hour.
Pancakes and French Toast
Cereal and milk is the best option (with a banana thrown in for nutrition) but if you have extra time on a Sunday, here are recipes for Pancakes and French Toast:
French Toast
Eggs
Milk
Oil
Sugar OR Vanilla OR Cinnamon OR Brown sugar
Challah bread, soft rolls, or any kind of soft bread, sliced
Beat a couple of eggs in a bowl, and add some milk until it is less thick but not yet runny. Add a capful of vanilla or a few dashes of cinnamon if you want, or pour in some brown or white sugar. Stir together, then soak the bread slices for about 3 minutes, until soft but not so it falls apart. You'll probably have to soak 1 or 2 at a time depending on how big your bowl is. Pour oil on a frying pan and turn the flame to medium low. Cook the soggy bread for about 3-6 minutes on each side, until it is firm and no longer soggy (this means the eggs have been cooked.) Enjoy! Top it with syrup, jam (if you have learned to like it) or sugar. Yummy.
Pancakes (you can also buy the mix like Mom used to - much easier, and mix and cook like it says on the box)
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 Tbs oil
Mix together, then add (but don't mix yet):
1 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
Mix together, but not too well. Pour oil on a frying pan and turn the flame to medium, let the oil get hot. Then scoop some batter (using a spoon or a measuring cup) onto the frying pan and cook until there are bubbles in the middle of the pancake and the edges are lightly brown. Flip over carefully using a spatula, so it doesn't splatter, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pancake should be golden brown. Eat with syrup, melted butter, chocolate chips, or whatever else you want.
French Toast
Eggs
Milk
Oil
Sugar OR Vanilla OR Cinnamon OR Brown sugar
Challah bread, soft rolls, or any kind of soft bread, sliced
Beat a couple of eggs in a bowl, and add some milk until it is less thick but not yet runny. Add a capful of vanilla or a few dashes of cinnamon if you want, or pour in some brown or white sugar. Stir together, then soak the bread slices for about 3 minutes, until soft but not so it falls apart. You'll probably have to soak 1 or 2 at a time depending on how big your bowl is. Pour oil on a frying pan and turn the flame to medium low. Cook the soggy bread for about 3-6 minutes on each side, until it is firm and no longer soggy (this means the eggs have been cooked.) Enjoy! Top it with syrup, jam (if you have learned to like it) or sugar. Yummy.
Pancakes (you can also buy the mix like Mom used to - much easier, and mix and cook like it says on the box)
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 Tbs oil
Mix together, then add (but don't mix yet):
1 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
Mix together, but not too well. Pour oil on a frying pan and turn the flame to medium, let the oil get hot. Then scoop some batter (using a spoon or a measuring cup) onto the frying pan and cook until there are bubbles in the middle of the pancake and the edges are lightly brown. Flip over carefully using a spatula, so it doesn't splatter, and cook for another 2 minutes. Pancake should be golden brown. Eat with syrup, melted butter, chocolate chips, or whatever else you want.
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