Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Stew (Koresht - e - Fesenjan)

4 pcs. chicken leg quarters
1 large onion, sliced thin
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 lb walnuts, toasted and ground
1/2 cups pomegranate syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1-2 T sugar (depending on taste and sweetness of juice)
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
2 T lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
3 T olive oil
**water if needed

Brown chicken pieces in a heavy bottomed pan in oil. Remove and set aside. Using the same pan, sauté onions and garlic. Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg, stir and fry for a minute.

Mix in the walnut into the mixture. Add the browned chicken pieces and toss to coat. Stir in the pomegranate syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add little water if chicken needed more cooking. then reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour until the sauce is thickened, the walnuts release their oil and the sauce has reduced to about half..

Add and stir in lemon juice and sugar according to taste. Adjust seasoning if needed. Continue cooking for a 20 more minutes. Mix in the ground cardamom few minutes before serving.

I like to serve these with steamed rice but you can serve these with warm pita bread.

These taste better the following day.

Recipe adapted from

 Koresht - e -Fesenjan!

DC Challenge Edible Container Winner (SZECHUAN CHICKEN ON CRISPY CHICKEN SKIN BOWL)

Hello, i didn't have the chance to thank everyone for voting and making it possible for me to win the first Daring Kitchen Cooking Challenge Contest. 

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE UNTIRING SUPPORT. OH I KNOW HOW IT WAS TO VOTE AND VOTE AND VOTE  DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR HOW MANY WEEKS? HA!HA!  BUT IT WAS GREAT!

THANK YOU TO THE DARING KITCHEN FOR THIS CONTEST. BEING A MEMBER IS INDEED A CHALLENGE. IT IS EXCITING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE NEXT CHALLENGE WILL BE. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CONTEST I'D LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT IT MADE US MORE ENTHUSED AND KEPT OUR CREATIVE MINDS GO THROUGH THE ROOF!!! EVERY ONES DISHES WERE EXCEPTIONAL. 

THE DARING COOKS’ JUNE, 2011 CHALLENGE: HEALTHY POTATO SALADS FROM AROUND THE WORLD!

Stunning photos, delicious recipe choices, and a whole lot of gumbo love is what you provided us last month, Denise, and we couldn’t be happier (we’re a lot fuller.. but nonetheless.. ) for it. Thank you for presenting a wonderful challenge that many people had never tried before. This was the first time I’ve had Gumbo and I’m TICKLED PINK to have these recipes as the seafood Gumbo I made was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I read pretty much the same the same sentiment from so many people.. I think we can all agree it was a great introduction into Creole cooking! Thank you so much!!

As promised.. we have our winners, courtesy of the Daring Kitchen readers’ votes! Grand prize goes to TaGa_Luto for her Szechuan Chicken in Crispy Chicken Skin Bowl! Congrats, Pia! 

And our runner up is Monkey Queen for her Pear and Beet Dried Bowl Filled with Cheddar Cheese Soufflé! Congrats to you too, Renee! Yay! I’ll email you both very soon! 

Many, many thanks and congratulations to all of our top 5 finalists.. the votes were SO CLOSE and I’m not just saying that.. the voters had a tough time picking the winners. Terrific job everyone!! 

Big thanks to everyone who has sent in their Member Spotlight questionnaires, and who have volunteered for cookbook/product reviews or FoodTalk articles! I’m good now for a bit on everything except FoodTalk Articles – still have lots of openings for the 2nd half of 2011 if ya’ll are interested! Just drop me a line at lamiacucina AT adelphia DOT net and I’ll get you on the roster.

This month we’ve got another fun challenge that is totally open to creativity.. and the lovely people at the United States Potato Board are sponsoring this challenge so we can help get the word out about what a delicious, nutritious and versatile vegetable potatoes really are! So have fun! Cook outside the box and outside your comfort zone.. let your imaginations run wild! 

Lis

xoxo

This is the winning dish.
SZECHUAN CHICKEN ON CRISPY CHICKEN SKIN BOWL

 

HEALTHY POTATO SALAD FROM AROUND THE WORLD - DARING COOKS CHALLENGE FOR JUNE 2011 PART 2

Part two for the DC June Challenge. This brings back memories. My mom makes this for special occasions. I don't have her exact recipe. My version may not be as good as my mom but i know it's close enough! ha!ha!  I'm calling this " Filipino Potato Salad".

Ingredients:

FOR THE SALAD:

1 lb.Yukon Gold Potatoes (washed)

1/4 C Carrots (washed, peeled, diced)

1/4 C Celery (washed, diced, same size as carrots)

1 T Chives (washed and chopped small)

1 small Red onions- you can use sweet/vidalia onions (peeled, minced)

1 dozen Eggs - i used quail eggs (hard cooked). 4 if using regular eggs.


FOR THE DRESSING:

2 C Mayonnaise (start w/ 1/2 then adjust if necessary)

1 T Honey1 1/2 T Pickle Relish

1/4 C Pineapple tidbits (drained but save about 1/2 cup of the juice)

1/2 C Cheddar cheese (diced same size as carrots)

pinch of salt and pepper

1. Boil potatoes in a salted water until cooked for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender but not too soft. Let the potatoes cool.

2. Mix the salad dressing until you get the consistency you like. Taste and adjust add pineapple juice if needed. Set this aside in the refrigerator while you're prepping the rest of the ingredients.

3. Cut the vegetables in uniform size.
4. Peel potatoes and cut in cubes, bite size.
5. Cook quail eggs in boiling water for 15 minutes. Cool and peel. cut in half.

6. Mix all ingredients. Taste and adjust.

7. I served this w/ grilled mushroom burgers..  

HEALTHY POTATO SALAD FROM AROUND THE WORLD - DARING COOKS CHALLENGE FOR JUNE 2011

Before i start w/ my June challenge, i'd like to thank you all for the vote. Winning the Edible Container challenge was an honor and something i will cherish .

Now for this month's challenge, our host Jami Sorrento challenged us to come up with Healthy Potato Salad.  I'm so hyped, i made two kinds of Potato Salad. 

My first potato salad is something i made based on what i have in my pantry and refrigerator. Measurements on the ingredients are estimates so it'll all depend on the the quantity you will be making and do some adjustments.

I called my first potato salad, MEDITERRANEAN POTATO SALAD, just because of the ingredients. I love, love this salad and will be a keeper, The salad was served with grilled New York Strip Steak. 

Ingredients:
FOR THE SALAD:

1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes (cleaned)
4 varieties of olives (Kalamata stuffed with garlic, black olives stuffed with anchovies, red olives stuffed with jalapeno, green olives)*
1 T capers2 T parsley (washed and chopped)
1 small red onions (julienne)1 T roasted tomatoes (chopped)
1/3 C red bell peppers (chopped)
1 small jar of artichokes in olive oil (chopped)
1/4 lb. Bulgarian feta cheese ( crumbled)
1/4 lb hot sopressata (rolled and sliced thinly)
*The olives i used are all from the deli/olives and pickles cart. I bought 1/4 lb of each olives.

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE/DRESSING:

1/2 C White balsamic vinegar
1/2 C Olive oil
Pinch of salt and pepper

1. Boil potatoes in a salted water until cooked for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender but not too soft. Let the potatoes cool.

2.  Mix and whisk well the vinaigrette dressing.

3. Peel and cut potatoes in cubes (bite size).

4. Assemble all the ingredients. Pour the vinaigrette little by little, taste as you mix the salad.Add more dressing if necessary.

5. Served the potato salad warm with grilled NY Strip Steak.



Oh yeah!!!!Flavor profile is awesome... like i said this is a keeper!!

Mediterranean Salad served with Grilled NY Strip Steak

STUFFED LAMB BURGER

Ingredients:

For the Patties:

2 lbs. ground lamb
4 oz. blue cheese ( I used Stilton)
3 T finely chopped fresh mint"
1 t salt
1 t ground black pepper

For the rolls:

4 rolls ( i used artisan soft bread and kaiser poppy seeds)
Slices of tomatoes (hamburger cut)
Slices of onions (hamburger cut)
Lettuce
Mayonnaise
Ketchup



1.  Form cheese into round depending on the size of your burger. At least the size of a cherry. Put them aside in the refrigerator.

2. Mix  all remaining ingredients.

3. Divide the lamb mixture into four portions, then divide each portions in half.

4. Flatten the portions into eight equal patties.

5. Put the round cheese in the center of four patties.

6. Then cover with the remaining patties, making sure the edges are sealed. This is to prevent the cheese to ooze out of the patties while cooking.

7. Grill or fry on medium heat for at least 6 minutes per side.

8. Assemble your burger on a bun with lettuce, onions and tomatoes.

Kaiser Poppy Seeds Rolls and Artisan Soft Rolls

Ground Lamb, Chopped mint leaves, salt and ground black pepper

Stilton Cheese -  Made in England, it's firmer and milder than Roquefort or Gorgonzola.

Yummy!!!!

GINATAANG BILO- BILO /PINALTOK (GLUTINOUS RICE BALLS WITH COCONUT MILK)- MAY KULINARYA THEME

Better late than never;) Sefie and Connie chose Flores de Mayo for the Kulinarya Cooking Club theme for May. Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May) is one of so many events i look forward to. Pls. click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flores_de_Mayo for a better idea on what this means.

To me, May also means a collage of colors. Not only because of the beautiful flowers, the Procession in honor of  The Virgin Mary,  but because of  the fiesta celebrations, Santa Cruzan and the food!

This is why i opted for Bilo-Bilo because of the colors and a popular snack served during fiestas;) 

Ingredients:

1 pack glutinous rice flour
½ cup water (for the dough) and more if necessary
1 cup water to be mixed with the coconut milk
2 cups sugar
2 cans coconut milk
1 cup tapioca pearls
1 can jackfruit (langka), cut into strips
1.  Mix glutinous rice flour and water into dough. Add more water if needed. Shape into balls depending on what size you want your bilo bilo to be. I prefer a size of an olive. These will expand as they get cooked. I use only half of what was made and freeze the rest of the dough for future use.* (I'D LIKE TO MAKE THEM ALL AT ONCE TO SAVE SOME TIME FOR NEXT BILO BILO)

 2. In a large pot, bring 1 can coconut milk, 1 cup water, 2 cups sugar, and tapioca pearls to a boil. Tapioca pearls are cooked when they turn transparent in color, and  rice balls.are soft and chewy.

3. Add remaining coconut milk and jackfruit when tapioca pearls and rice balls are cooked. At this point taste and adjust the sugar. Boil for 5 more minutes.

4. Serve hot.

Make dough balls, a size of an olive.

.

Use the colored tapioca pearls.

Colorful Tapioca Pearls

Bring the glutinous rice balls, tapioca pearls, sugar, coconut milk and water to a boil until tapioca pearls and glutinous rice balls are cooked.

Add more coconut milk, jack fruit. Taste and adjust sugar and the coconut milk.

        How to freeze the dough balls. Arrange them on a sheet pan like you would a cookie dough and put in the freezer uncovered for few minutes or until it hardens. Then transfer in a freezer bag. Freeze for future use.

Mango Refrigerator Cake (April Kulinarya Theme)

This is my blog for this month's - April Kulinarya theme. Our host Lala of  This Little Piggy challenged us w/ DECADENCE food and the first that came to mind is mango!!! It is Asian mango season here. I know, you'll probably say whattt? they are always available. Yes, the greenish, reddish type of mango which i don't like. and no, i'm not a snub, i'm just spoiled ha!ha!.. Try the other variety of mango which is commonly called Asian mango or Atulfo, i'm sure you'll agree with me. .Asian mangoes are way better. They are sweeter and not fibrous at all. 

This is just to compare and show how big these mangoes are.

I've blogged mango dishes please click http://bisayajudkaayo.blogspot.com/search/label/Mangoes.
Mango Cheesecake
http://bisayajudkaayo.blogspot.com/2010/08/mango-cheesecake.html


Mango Ice Cream
http://bisayajudkaayo.blogspot.com/2009/08/mango-ice-cream.html






This time i made MANGO REFRIGERATOR CAKE. This dessert is easy, no baking needed and oh so good!!!


THE  QUANTITY/MEASUREMENT FOR THIS DISH ARE ESTIMATES.  I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON HOW MUCH YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE AND HOW MUCH MANGOES YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IN YOUR CAKE.


Cake and Mango
Ingredients:

5 packs of broas (Lady fingers) add more if you want more layers.
6 mangoes sliced thinly (depend on the size of the mango)


Directions:
1. Slice mangoes thinly, discard the seeds. Set aside.
2. Coat the baking pan with softened butter.
3. Arrange and layer broas on bottom of the pan.
4. Pour and spread about 1/2 cup of the buttercream frosting.
5. Arrange sliced mangoes.
6. Repeat process, layer broas, then buttercream then mangoes.
7. The top most must be the buttercream layer.
8. Arrange the sliced mangoes. I made two different ways to arrange the mangoes. Please see below pictures.
9. Chill in the fridge for an hour or more and Enjoy!!!




Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients:

2 cans 18.7 oz. condensed milk
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

2 t vanilla extract

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar (as needed)

Directions:
1. Beat softened butter, condensed milk, vanilla, and slowly add the  confectioners' sugar..

2. Continue beating until frosting  reaches desired consistency. I want mine a bit loose.

Rosette mangoes as garnish.

Arrange sliced mangoes this way.

A slice of the cake the following day. The color of the mango will change but the flavor is not compromised. Still delicious!!

The Daring Cooks’ April, 2011 Challenge: EDIBLE CONTAINERS (savory)

Well, hang tight and you will be in for a ride! This months Daring Cooks Challenge is about Edible Container. Kudos to Renata of Testado, Provado,& Aprovado. I can say that this is one challenge that i have enjoyed immensely. Not only because this challenge would entail a prize, it basically didn't call for a specific recipe for us to follow but instead gave us the freedom to go outside the box.

This challenge indeed challenged each member to be creative and creative we were. Oh my goodness, such a slew of brilliant ideas. Check  DC member’s Creations.

I made three edible containers. I opted to blog them separately because i believe each dish warrants a blog of their own;) Oh boy...what was I thinking?!!! Three dishes??? But really in all honesty..it was well worth it!!!! SO PLS. CLICK ON EACH DISH TO CHECK THE RECIPES.

Let's start with my "outside the box" edible container.
SZECHUAN CHICKEN ON CRISPY CHICKEN SKIN BOWL

The "outside the box" part of this dish is the bowl. I tried to experiment on both the skin from the leg quarters and the breast you would think the ones from the leg quarters would be sturdy/firm enough to form a bowl but surprisingly the skin from the breast was the ones that shaped into a perfect bowl.

According to my guinea pig (my family) this was really good, the crispy skin went well/complimented with the filling.

CONCLUSION:

Taste wise -We really love the combination and the addition of the crispy chicken skin.
Presentation wise - Beautiful, very appetizing

But if you ask me if I’ll do it again? Yes, of course but not making it into a bowl, I’d crush the chicken chicharon and add it on top of a bowl of rice and Szechuan chicken. This is a must try!!!

My second dish "Not so new dish" Edible Container
FILIPINO SEAFOOD CHOPSUEY ON CRISPY NOODLE BOWL

Now this one is a Filipino dish. What made this as my challenge dish? It’s the noodles.

Usually the noodles are just deep fried then top with the chopsuey. What i did was form the noodles into a bowl or nest.

CONCLUSION:

TASTE WISE: Yes, Yes....Crispy noodles are always good! You can actually make this with chicken, pork or beef. A must try dish too!

PRESENTATION WISE: Making the crispy noodles yes but forming them into a bowl not necessary but if you want to impress your guest then by all means make a crispy bowl.

*** The bowl will collapse as soon as you pour the chopsuey. The crispy noodles will absorb the sauce quickly.

OKAY, I WILL SAY THIS...I WILL MAKE THE CRISPY NOODLES AGAIN BUT WITH A FILLING THAT DOES NOT HAVE MUCH SAUCE OR GRAVY. AN ASIAN SALAD WILL BE PERFECT!!!



My last dish for April DC Challenge - "Must try dish" Edible Container.

XIAOLONGBAO-SHANGHAI STEAMED SOUP DUMPLINGS

I first learned about this from my nephew who worked in China. I was so intrigued that i had to put this in my "to do list". This has been in my to do list for the longest time and i finally have no excuse not to make it this time. I thought what a perfect dish for the challenge. XLB could be served 2 ways, a huge dumpling with a straw and the ones that I made. There are a lot of recipes around but i made my own version, the inspiration of this recipe is from my "Chinese Cooking" Cookbook.

XIAOLONGBAO-STEAMED SOUP DUMPLINGS (XLB) small steaming basket is commonly known as Shanghai Steamed Soup Dumplings, are traditionally filled with broth and pork but i added quail eggs on mine. The broth inside is made by using some meat gelatin w/c melts when steamed. 

CONCLUSION:
I love, love it but if you ask me will i make it again? Perhaps on special occasion! Okay, okay..here are the reasons.


1. Can I say...LABORIOUS!!! Too much work can you believe that! lol!!!. I had a hard time with the pleating!!

2. These needs to be served right off the steamer otherwise you will loose the broth. I believe it's absorbed by the dough because I didn’t have any leak on the steamer or on the plate. SO NOT GOOD FOR PARTIES.

3. Lets just say I'd leave this to the experts! I rather sit down, order lots of XLB's and enjoy them. But if you haven't tried or tasted these and you're up to making them no matter how long the process will be...go for it!!! It's really good!!!

AT LEAST I CAN NOW SAY THAT I'VE TASTED AND MADE THESE BEAUTIFUL JEWELS!!!! ANOTHER DISH DONE ON MY TO DO LIST!!!

THANK YOU RENATA FOR THIS CHALLENGE!!!