Tri-Peppered Chicken

The elder table counterparts is full of euphemisms like "ticks on a dog", "R-U-N-N-O-F-T" from O Brother, Where Art Thou, and does the Pope wear a funny hat? just to name a few of the many hundreds. Hundreds! No, I am not exaggerating either. In reading Black Pepper Chicken my very first thought was "that's a spicy pickle!" A stir fry with three different peppers and only three teaspoons of sugar had to be given a chance. Even it was too spicy the pictures made it worth trying.

Modifications Made:

Marinade: The recipe did not state so low sodium chicken stock was used. Granulated white sugar was used for the marinade and stir fry instead of palm sugar.Garlic was doubled. One and half teaspoons of black pepper instead of one teaspoons to help offset the lacking peppercorns in the stir fry itself.

Stir Fry: Black pepper was increased by quarter teaspoon to offset omitted black peppercorns.

Scaled for Likability: Great

Oh, the debate over celery in stir fry. I love it, the table counterparts don't saying celery is not Asian. Moist tender chicken, slightly snappy red bell peppers, and crunchy celery. And yes, the sugar can have been reduced. The bell pepper was sweet, the celery was sweet, and the chicken marinade soaked up plenty of sugary goodness that the additional sugar in the stir fry could have been omitted or at least lessened to say a teaspoon especially since there is also sugar in the oyster sauce.

Next time, celery will be replaced with bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, carrots, or snap peas. Still offering a lovely crunch without the bold taste of celery. Since black peppercorns will still not be used, a half teaspoon of white pepper will be added to the marinade. So good!

Papas a La Mexicana (Ranchera)

It is a crying shame that there are six hens and not a egg in sight. What am I supposed to do with homemade ranchero sauce? Thankfully with a few quick searches of the internet a recipe from my hometown newspaper was discovered: Papas Ranchera . Not once in the thirty years I lived in my hometown did I ever eat at a local food joint serving papas rancheras. No time like the present to remedy this cultural dish. Because this recipe is hidden behind a paywall (grrr...) I have included it here for you: Servings: 4-6 Ingredients: 1 pound potatoes, diced 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 large onion 1 1/2 medium tomatoes 3 jalapenos 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup juice from canned tomatoes Instructions: Fry potatoes in vegetable oil until lightly browned (about 4-6 minutes). Saute onions, tomatoes, jalapenos until soft. Add garlic powder and salt. Add tomato juice until vegetables are covered (may need to add water). Bring to a boil and then add po...

Better Than Campbell's Old Fashion Vegetable Soup

Went to the store with the hopes of gathering fresh produce for soup. With more than 45 people in line for two packages of any meat product and the produce section containing only avocado, orange, and most randomly, strawberries, I settled upon canned soup. Well not canned soup since that section was still void of food, too. Instead soup made from canned goods as the canned vegetable section had been mostly restocked. Soups like this 15 Minute Vegetable Soup are ideal in dire food situations such as current times. Modifications Made: Plain petite diced tomatoes omitted, frozen carrots instead of canned, green beans and corn undrained, peas omitted (gross, nasty little pods), one cup celery, three cups diced potatoes, one can tomato sauce, two beef and two pollo de tomate bouillon cubes, six cups water. Once onions were softened, carrots/celery/potatoes/juice of green beans and corn, sauce, bouillon cubes, water were added and allowed to simmer until carrots almos...

So Sad Cake Brownies

Oh my word how does a space as small a pantry becomes so disorganized? And in such a short time, nonetheless? While reorganizing the four 2x4 pantry shelves yesterday a golden back of the box recipe was discovered. Milk Brownies. Replacing yogurt for milk or applesauce for oil, these are commonplace alternatives. Milk for water in a box brownie, this had to be tried. Stat. Modifications Made: Per the box, 1/3 cup milk replaced 1/3 water. Half cup of chopped walnuts were added along with two tablespoons of Hershey chocolate syrup. Because why not. Scaled for Likability: No, Thank You The milk was fine, the extra chocolate was fine. Walnuts could have been doubled. The problem was the brownies themselves. I accidently made cake brownies with two eggs instead of fudge brownies with just one brownie. So sad. These were given to the neighbor who prefers cake brownies. If the neighbor liked fudge brownies (they are the best kind) these wo...

Eating Waffles

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