RECIPE: Fried Rice with a shrimp flavor

This recipe was totally by accident! I put shrimp seasoning in my rice cooker when I meant to put Safron...to go with our rosemary baked chicken. But, I think I can make it work...breakthroughs happen from breakdowns!

These ingredients are what I happen to have at home.
- Beat 2 eggs & fry with thinly sliced onions. Set aside.
- Fry in oil: diced garlic, diced carrots, chopped ham, pineapple
- Put the cooked rice-mistake which had shrimp seasoning and diced mushrooms
- Soy and sesame oil to taste
- Add egg & frozen peas
- No need to add salt because shrimp seasoning is salty enough

I was inspired by the following recipes.
I googled "ham pineapple fried rice recipe" and "recipe for shrimp fried rice"
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/shrimprecipes/r/shrimpfriedrice.htm
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/shrimp_fried_rice/
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-fried-rice-ii/
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pineapple-fried-rice-ii/

RECIPE: Double French Toast

This was inspired by a breakfast we had in the Gravenstein Inn, Mendocino CA area back in the early 1990s.

This breakfast goes very well with TicoFusion(tm) coffee!

Starting with the AllRecipes.com recipes:

Caramelized French Toast:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/caramelized-french-toast/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=caramelized%20french%20toast&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=%2frecipe-tools%2fprint%2frecipe.aspx

Creme Brulee French Toast: 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/creme-brulee-french-toast/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=creme%20brulee%20french%20toast&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=%2frecipe-tools%2fprint%2frecipe.aspx

• Pre-heat oven 350 degrees F
• Beat together:
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp orange liqueur
• pinch of salt
• Dip bread in egg mixture and fry in 1TB butter, Medium heat (no more than dial-4)
• In baking dish, mix & melt in oven while pre-heating:
• 1/3 brown sugar
• 2 tsp corn syrup
• Lay 1 bread slice, spread cream cheese.
• TicoFusion(tm) time! Speared local jam like pineapple or Mangostene from neighbor Caroline's tree.
• Lay the other bread slice on top - the DOUBLE french toast!
• Bake for 20 minutes.

Double the recipe for 5 people!

• Each gets 2 double french toasts with a small/medium sized baguette.
• When dipping in the egg mixture, don't dip too long or it will get soggy.
• Use the Del Prado queso crema(cream cheese) 220 grams.

Buen provecho!

RECIPE: Spinach and artichoke/hearts of palm dip for slow cooker

Well...it's almost impossible to find artichokes in CR. So what to substitute with?
This is what I chose because these are easy to get in CR!
palm hearts
broccoli
olives 
...and I added to the list: Chayote!

GOOD RESOURCE FOR SUBS: http://www.foodsubs.com


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060725115825AA0Pxp2

red,yellow,green,orange peppers,spinach,palm hearts,avocado,

or broccoli.

MEAL: Fish Tostada and Cilantro sauce, with Watercress and Hearts of Palm

He was expecting a tipico Fish Taco, and boy was he very delightfully surprised!
This meal had a lot of exquisite parts, all essential to the final package delivering this wonderful ymminess.

• Fish fried in butter 
• Tostada - a Mexican fried tortilla and the dish based on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tostada
• Cilantro cream sauce on top of the Fish
• Watercress and Hearts of Palm dressed in a Vinigarette dressing

FISH

Depending on fish, you may need to:

- cut in strips

- increase heat to high to brown

CILANTRO CREAM SAUCE

This is what I used after Googling "" because it was the easiest, and I knew there were so many other tastes in the meal. I added 1/4 tsp of cumin.

http://www.food.com/recipe/mamas-cilantro-cream-sauce-166779

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped

2 green onions, chopped

4 teaspoons lime juice

I also looked at these recipes that I could try in the future:

- In this recipe, I used the Cumin, and I might use the cream cheese next time to make it a dip: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/amys-cilantro-cream-sauce/

WATERCRESS AND HEARTS OF PALM

This is the recipe I used, and TicoFusioned it!

http://www.food.com/recipe/hearts-of-palm-blood-orange-and-watercress-salad-450181

4 blood oranges - SUBSTITUTE with mango or Star Fruit
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 (14 ounce) can hearts of palm
one small shallot - SUBSTITUTE with onion+garlic, or http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080224083313AAkE7rg
one bunch watercress
1/2 teaspoon large flaked sea salt

I also looked at these recipes that I could try in the future:

- Interesting with corn & olives:

http://www.thekitchn.com/easy-recipe-chilean-composed-salad-169534

- Too much going on here, and it used cilantro again, not watercress:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hearts-of-palm-salad-with-cilantro-vinaigrette

BEST PRACTICES: Meal Pipeline

Pipelines have been good for sales. We've also used them to manage fruits so there is a perfectly ripened fruit each day. Now let's see how it looks like when planning meals!

I love to cook, but if I had to cook every meal, then i would spend more than half my life in this hot kitchen (I exaggerate). And then I won't have time to do my other jobs. So, I've designed a system where:
- I cook enough for 3 meals
- 1 meal is eaten fresh, the other 2 days later, and the 3rd is immediately frozen to be eaten in a week (a healthy frozen dinner)....space it out so we don't get bored of the same meal day after day.
- The meal does not take that much longer to prepare if 3 times the size. And if the meal is time-consuming to prepare, then the time spent delivers more value.
- The meal freezes and thaws well.
- Alternate...do a recipe once every month or so, and not more often,
- Introduce 1 newly prepared side dish when there is a left-over; e.g. salad.

EXAMPLES:
- Spaghetti sauce...then use this with different recipes like: Mexican Starw Hat, Chili beans, etc.
- Tuna casserole...and other casseroles
- Lasagna
- Moussaka
- Hainanese Chicken
- BBQ Chicken
- Curry dishes with Pork & Chicken
- Red Stuffed peppers and spinach
- Sauces for baked fish like: leek and butter
- Salad toppings like: caramelized beets (ginger, etc)
- I need more ideas or I will get bored!

SMOOTHIE: Pineapple & celery

RECIPE: Broccoli Salad

I COMBINED THESE 3 RECIPES:

http://southernfood.about.com/od/broccolisaladrecipes/r/bl30321j.htm

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/broccoli_salad/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/broccoli-salad-recipe/index.html

1 Bring a large pot of water, salted with a teaspoon of salt, to a boil. Add the broccoli florets. Cook 1-2 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want the broccoli. 1 minute will turn the broccoli bright green, and leave it still pretty crunchy. 2 minutes will cook the broccoli through, but still firm. Set your timer and do not cook for more than 2 minutes, or the broccoli will get mushy. Drain the broccoli and immediately put into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Let cool and drain.

Ingredients:

• 5 to 6 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup raisins..I substituted with sweet corn
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon..I substituted with beef jerky
• 1/4 cup of red onion, chopped
• 1 cup of frozen peas, thawed, optional...I could have used canned beans
• .
• Dressing:
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste...or 1/4 cup honey

And this is the TicoFusion(tm) DELIGHT:

- Boil the broccoli

- It's hard to get good bacon in CR...so I used beef jerky

- No peas

RECIPE: Fish with butter, lemongrass and ginger

I liked this dish because of the fine flavors, it's a simple taste (but not boring, though it took a lot of time to chop), and it's healthy!

I used this recipe:

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/cuisine/seafood/recipe/fish-cooked-with-butter-lemongrass-and-ginger-20111019-1m4w9.html

Then did my TicoFusion(tm) variations:

- I sued Cabrilla which is a type of grouper. Turns out Cabrilla might be better for baking because it was breaking up. I did like the texture.
- Microwave the carrots for 2 minutes in butter, so that it is soft
- If the fish cooks quickly because it is thin, then cook everything but the fish, almost-reduce the sauce before cooking the fish in the almost-reduced sauce. Let the fish cook in the sauce to get the fine flaovrs.
- I doubled the sauce because I like sauce, and added extra carrots to have more veggies.

You might be interested in this:

RECIPE: Hainanese Chicken Rice

This meal is so healthy, and the flavor so simple, I can eat this for many days without getting bored.
I learned about this dish from my mom, but since she didn't really follow a recipe, I decided to look it up:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/hainanese-chicken-rice-recipe/index.html
http://steamykitchen.com/5068-hainanese-chicken-rice.html
http://www.filipinorecipe-tv.com/hainanese-chicken.html

CHICKEN

Ginger, 3 inches grated

Garlic, 6 cloves, diced in food processor

Cilantro leaves - the long ones - 6 chopped

1 tsp salt

VEGETABLES TO BOIL WITH THE CHICKEN

Chayote - boil at the same time

Broccoli - boil 20 minutes before

SAUCE

I may try to puree in my food processor next time, but I'll do it the way I think my mom did it, which is finely chopped.

• green onions diced, 2 stalks without the dark green parts
• garlic diced, 2 tsp, about 5 cloves, equal part to the green onions
• Easy on the ginger until you are sure you like this taste
• 20 shakes of salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Lime juice

Other ideas:

http://andrealynnfoodwriter.com/garlic-scallion-sauce-two-ways/

http://casaveneracion.com/steamed-chicken-with-ginger-garlic-sauce/

RECIPE: Cabbage, ginger and sesame stir fry

I used this recipe:
www.taste.com.au/recipes/15622/cabbage+ginger+and+sesame+stir+fry

I don't think I like the ginger.
Good article on Coriander Substitute (Cillantro / culantro):
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/makeyourowningredients/qt/Coriander-Substitute.htm

We will be using this cabbage with the Fish Tacos, and as a side dish with the Hainanese Chicken.

GARDEN2TABLE RECIPE: Garlic Rosemary Roast Chicken

I used this recipe:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Garlic-Rosemary-Roast-Chicken-237569
I used Rosemary freshly picked from the garden!

Silly me...I put the garlic and rosemary in softened butter thinking I would make it tastier, but now I have a lot of fat since the chicken skin also produced lots of oil juice. So next time, I will just follow the recipe.

Tres Leches - translating the instructions

I got a packet for the cake, but the directions are in Spanish.

cdas de agua = tbsp water
1) agregue = add
el agua a un tazon
= water to a bowl

2) mezcle = mix
a velocidad alta para incorporar aire a la mezcla y que esta queda espesa
= at high speed to incorporate air into the mixture and this is thick

3) hornee = bake
previamente engrasado = greased

4) preparacion = preparation
enfriar el queque y usarlo con un tenedor. Revuelva todas las leches y virtalas sobre el queque. Decore con merengue o chantilly
= Cool the cake and use it with a fork. Stir milk and virtalas all over thecake. Decorate with meringue or whipped

Cris' Flan

So, what do you do when your vacation rental neighbors leave you with all their eggs that they didn't use up during their vacation? The REAL Flan with just egg yolks!

I start with this recipe from filipinofoodrecipes.net: and have some variations from Cris.
http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/leche-flan.htm

USE 2 CDM CONTAINERS SO IT'S NOT SO DEEP
1 CDM medium aluminum bowl, and the small bowl.

CARAMELIZE DIRECTLY IN CONTAINER
In the CDM aluminum bowls that will be used for the flans.
10TB sugar w/ 1 tsp water in the medium bowl.
5-7TB sugar w/ 1 tsp water in the medium bowl.

Never too much caramel - I always feel like there's never enough served in the restaurants. So, in my house, I put a lot!!!
You'll have a lot to caramelize sides of bowl. Let cool so caramel hardens before pouring mixture.
Bring to a boil just a few minutes to caramelize. Do NOT scorch.

MIX THE FLAN MIXTURE
Mix the 2 milks, egg yolks and vanilla in the CDM large bowl. Use just one container.
Pour into mould after caramel cools/hardens, then cover with aluminum foil.


STEAM THE FLAN FOR 50 MINUTES (20 minutes for 1.5 inches thick)
Double-boil in the CDM large+medium pots.


Cool > refrigerate > loosen > turn upside down & serve.

Ramos Fizz Recipe using Vodka instead of Gin

I started with this recipe from www.chow.com:
http://www.chow.com/recipes/10293-ramos-gin-fizz
INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces gin...use vodka instead
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1 egg white
• 1 ounce heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons superfine sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon orange flower water...use 2 to 3 tsp Triple Sec
• Cold club soda

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Vigorously shake the gin, lemon juice, lime juice

++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,183,146167-249206,00.html
RAMOS FIZZ  

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,183,146167-249206,00.html
Content Copyright © 2012 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.

1 tsp. orange water
1 (8 oz.) can lemonade
1 can vodka
1 can half and half
1 egg white
1 tsp. vanilla
8 ice cubes

Blend.

• I googled "mixed drinks with egg whites"

• I googled "substitutes for Orange flower water" and got http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Dictionary/O/Orange-flower-water-5759.aspx

For 1/2 tsp orange flower water substitute 1 to 2 drops orange oil OR 2 to 3 tsp orange liqueur such as Triple Sec

Tico substitutions: replacing hard to find ingredients with local cheap Costa Rican ingredients

This is about replacing hard to find or expensive ingredients with local cheap Costa Rican ingredients.

Ricotta = Turralba Tipico queso blanco. I prefer the Monte Verde brand over Don Pinos.

Spinach Frittata using egg whites - real simple recipe

I start with this recipe from recipes.sparkpeople.com real simple recipe:
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=45471

I add canned sweet corn, tomato left over from a salad.
Eat with corn tortilla chips and salsa.

Cris' Flan

So, what do you do when your vacation rental neighbors leave you with all their eggs that they didn't use up during their vacation?

• The REAL Flan with just egg yolks!
• Ramos Fizz using egg whites
• Frittata using egg whites

I start with this recipe from filipinofoodrecipes.net: and have some variations from Cris.
http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/leche-flan.htm

CARAMELIZE DIRECTLY IN CONTAINER
In the CDM medium aluminum bowl that will be used for the flan.
15TB sugar w/ 1 tsp water: Never too much caramel - I always feel like there's never enough served in the restaurants. So, in my house, I put a lot!!!
You'll have a lot to caramelize sides of bowl. Let cool so caramel hardens before pouring mixture.
Bring to a boil just a few minutes to caramelize. Do NOT scorch.

MIX THE FLAN MIXTURE
Mix the 2 milks, egg yolks and vanilla in the CDM large bowl. Use just one container.
Pour into mould after caramel cools/hardens, then cover with aluminum foil.


STEAM THE FLAN FOR 40 MINUTES because it is thick
Double-boil in the CDM large pot.
Open-air do not cover.
Make sure bottom of mould does not touch pot - it floats.


Cool > refrigerate > loosen > turn upside down & serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting for Carrot Cake

For the frosting:
1 pound (450g) creamcheese, at roomtemperature
4 oz (110g) unsalted butter, at roomtemperature
2-3 cups (240-360g) powdered sugar, sifted
a few drops of vanilla extract

beat the creamcheese and butter together until smooth. Slowly add the
powdered sugar (do this on low speed to avoid a dust cloud) and mix until light and silky. Add the
vanilla.

++++++++++++

1 8 oz (250g) package creamcheese, softened
1/4 cup (60 mL) butter, softened
1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla
1 cup (250 mL) icing sugar

In bowl, beat creamcheese with butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Beat in icing sugar, one-third at a
time, until smooth. Spread over top of cake.

1 US stick of butter = 0.5 US cups...One stick is equal to 1/2 a cup

DRINK: Starfruit, ginger, lemongrass & lime...inspired by S&B

1 cup ginger: peeled and chopped
1/3 cup lemmongrass: dry tops and tough outer leaves removed, stalk cut into small rounds (about 6 small stalks)
1 cup sugar
1 cup, plus 6 cups, plus 6 cups water


In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, 1 cup water, lemongrass and ginger. Bring to a boil over mediumhigh
heat, stirring to the dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat
and allow the lemongrass and ginger to steep in the sugar syrup for at least half an hour.

For more pronounced flavor, place in the refrigerator and allow to steep several hours or overnight.

Strain the lemongrass ginger syrup through a small sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much flavor as

possible. Discard the solids, and add the syrup to the pitcher of fruit.

Add 6 cups of cold water to the tea, and stir well. Chill the drink, and serve over ice. 

Prepare Starfruit in 6 cups water.

Devein star fruit by removing the tough fibrous rib that runs along each edge.
In a blender, puree star fruit with ginger/lemongrass syrup. Add ice, rum, and lime or orange juice.
Blend until cocktail is smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses, and serve.


Garnish with a slice of star fruit
Enjoy!

+++++++++++++++++
Star Fruit Recipes: http://www.nikibone.com/recipe/fruit/starfruit.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambola



how to devein starfruit: http://www.marthastewart.com/335269/giovannas-star-fruit-cocktail

WEEKLY PLAN: Almost Vegetarian, no red meat

DAY 1: SATURDAY
Breakfast - TicoFUSION porridge, papaya, hard boiled egg, papa fria
Lunch - Tamarind Eggplant over spinach
Dinner - Dijon-Tarragon cream Chicken, Saffron rice with mushrooms

TUESDAY
Dinner - Sinigang (Filipino-inspired Tamarind soup) w/ fish & various veggies

WEDNESDAY

Dinner - BBQ chicken at our neighbor & I brought Tostada baked with white tipico cheese & tomato/basil & salad/basil w/ balsamic vinegarette dressing

THURSDAY
Dinner - Tamarind chicken, garlic chayote stir fry, rice

RECIPE for SAUCE: Tamarindo Eggplant for Spinach saladETC

The Tamarindo sauce can be used for grilled eggplants and other veggies TBE (To Be Experimented)

Slice 1 inch eggplant
Grill
Then cut up.

Tamarindo sauce:
- In butter, saute diced 1/2 yellow onion & 2 garlic clove
- equal parts tamarindo juice concentrate and vinegar.

• For 1 eggplant, use 1/3 cup each.
• It not using tamarindo juice concentrat, then you can use balsamic to add sweetnes

- Boil, then add eggplant
- Simmer to reduce

Serving suggestions:

• Over spinach salad slightly stir fried with olive oil
• With fried pork chop

MEAL: New Year 2012! Brunch

After sleeping in, and a cup of the TicoFUSION very special coffee blend, drink a Pipa very Fria (refrigerated overnight) to assist with the dehydration from the New Year's Eve Champagne.

Breakfast Burrito: on a flour tortilla

• Brown rice and black beans mixed together with the black bean juice
• Scrambled eggs with queso blanco tipico (or I would rather use cheddar cheese)
• Salsa, Santa Cruz Chunky Medio

Pastry from Musanni, and the rest of that TicoFUSION very special coffee blend

Rest for a bit and have the Coconut Sherbet created day before, and now frozen ready to be blended.