Octopus Salad

Submitted by Isa and Mario

Ingredients:

*1 4.5 pound fresh octopus (serves 8 entre size)

*3 cloves of garlic
*1 large sweet onion
*hand full parsley
*1 orange sweet pepper
*1 red sweet pepper
*1 yellow sweet pepper
*1 bottle of red vinegar
*olive oil
*balsamic vinegar
*salt to taste

Method:

(in a large pan that fits the octopus at least 2 inches high)

-rinse the octopus with water
-place it in the pan
-fill the pan with enough red vinigar to cover most of the octopus
-heat oven to 500f
-place the octopus in the oven for 1:15

(to check for tendernous, stick a fork in to the thicker part of the
octopus if it penetrates easily its done, if not place back in the
over for another 15 min)

-once cooked, let it cool and sit in the red vinegar for about 8 hours.
-heat BBQ to high
-drain the red vinigar from the pan
-mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic in a bowl and salt it (enough
to brush over the octopus)
-place the octopus in the BBQ on high heat, let it char for 5 min each
-side while basting with the octopus with the olive oil and balsamic

-mix
-once cooked let it cool

dice in to a bowl:
*3 cloves of garlic
*1 large sweet onion
*hand full chopped parsley
*1/2 orange sweet pepper
*1/2 red sweet pepper
*1/2 yellow sweet pepper


-slice the cooled octopus, and place it in the same bowl as all the
diced ingredients. 

-add the same olive oil and balsamic dressing to the bowl (not too much so that it accumulates at the bottom of the bowl)

-MIX!

Enjoy with your favorite chilled white wine!

Thin Crust Pizza Dough

 

Ingredients:

*2  1/2 cups all-purpose flour (may substitute 1 cup of the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour )

*1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsps.)

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 cup warm water

*1 tablespoon olive oil

*1 tsp sugar

*cornmeal, for sprinkling on pan or pizza stone

 

 

 

Method:

Mix sugar, yeast and warm water in bowl. Wait for 10 minutes or until it gets all foamy. Add flour, salt, olive oil and combine. Knead for 6-8 minutes until you have a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (add a bit more flour if you need to). Cover and let rest for 30 minutes. Lightly grease two 12-inch pizza pans or sprinkle with a little bit of cornmeal. Divide dough in half. Place each half on a pizza pan and pat it with your fingers until it stretches over the whole pan. Spread with pizza sauce and use the toppings of your choice. Bake at 450F for 20 minutes or longer or until bottom crust gets lightly golden. Makes 2 12-inch pizzas. If you don't want to use all the dough, you can freeze it. Take a portion of dough, form into a ball, rub olive oil over it/or spray the bag with Pam and place it in a freezer bag (the oil makes it easier to take out of the bag).

Coconut Curry Chicken

Ingredients:

*3 tablespoons butter

*2 medium onions, chopped

*1-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped (optional)

*4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

*2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional)

*2 tablespoons Curry Powder

*1 cinnamon stick (or some ground cinnamon)

*1 to 3 dried red chiles

*salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

*2 cans unsweetened coconut milk (1 can can be used)

*2 cups chicken stock

*6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips

Method:

Heat the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions, ginger, and garlic and cook slowly until the onions are very soft, about 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste, curry powder, cinnamon stick, and chiles and give it a good stir; season with salt and pepper. Pour in the coconut milk and chicken stock and bring it back to a simmer; cook until the sauce has thickened, about 25 minutes. Add the chicken and continue to simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve on top of white rice.

Healthy Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients: 
*2 tbsp olive oil 
*2 cloves garlic, crushed 
*hot red pepper flakes, to taste 
*6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or enough to cover corningware)
*2 cups tomato sauce 
*1/4 cup chopped basil (I use oregano)
*8 oz mozzarella, shredded (or any other cheese)
*4 oz Parmesan, grated (optional)
*croutons cut into 1" cubes from bread (or use store bought garlic croutons)

Method:

Oil the bottom of casserole dish. Spread crushed garlic on oil. Season the bottom with salt, pepper, oregano etc. Place chicken on top, season, and cover with tomato sauce. Spread fresh basil on top of sauce and then cover with half the cheese. Spread croutons (which have already been toasted/broiled until crispy in the oven) and cover with remainder of cheese. Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.

*note: thicker chicken breasts will increase cooking time

EZ Bread

Ingredients:

*3 cups water 

*1/2 tsp dry active yeast

*3 tsp salt

*6 cups flour

*cornmeal as needed

Method:

-put water with yeast, salt and mix

-add flour and mix

-cover with damp paper towel for 12-16 hours in a bowl covered with plastic wrap

-flour counter

-remove dough and flour top

-form dough into desired shape (from small mini buns to big loafs)

-cornmeal a baking sheet

-place dough on top of cornmeal

-sprinkle flour on top and sides of dough

-let rise again for 1.5 hours

-slice slits accross dough

-place a loaf pan with 2" of water in oven at 425F (this ensures a hard crust)

-put dough in and bake for 40 mins

-cool on pan or on rack

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

*3 regular or 4 small ripe bananas, mashed

*1/3 cup vegetable oil

*1 cup sugar 

*1 egg, beaten

*1-2 teaspoons of vanilla

*1 teaspoon baking soda

*Pinch of salt

*1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Method:

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix oil into pre-mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Pancakes!

Combine dry:

*1 1/3 cups of flour

*3 tbsps sugar

*2 tbsps baking powder

*1/2 tsp salt

Combine wet:

*1 beaten egg

*1 1/2 cups milk

*3 tbsps butter or vegetable oil

*1/2 tsp vanilla

Method:

Combine dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. In a non stick pan spoon in batter and tilt pan to spread batter. Cook until small bubbles form on top of batter and edges begin to golden. Flip with spatula and cook until underside is golden.

(add anything else: chocolate chips, banana etc.)