The Creative Kitchen by eileen carry

Tasty Guacamole!

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 18:18:40 -0800

What you need for this good n’ fresh guacamole dish...
2-3 medium avocados -ripe, halved, deseeded 1/8 inch slice red onion-small dice 1 large vine ripened tomato-deseeded-medium dice 1 tsp fresh ground salt 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper 1/4 slice lemon-deseeded 1/4 tsp ground red pepper (cayanne) 1 small bunch cilantro
In medium size bowl, add in avocado and loosely cut into smaller pieces with tablespoon edge. Add in red onion and tomato. Loosely blend into mix. Add in salt, pepper, then squeeze lemon to juice, mix again. Now add in red pepper and mix thoroughly. Using a pair of kitchen shears (scissors), snip cilantro into bowl, about 1/4 cup or so, and fold in.
If you are setting this up the same day, do it a bit early and set aside so flavors can mingle. If the day before, cover with plastic wrap and set in fridge. Remove 1 hour before serving.
Total prep time: 7 minutes
Serves 4-6

Authentic French Quiche

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:09:12 -0700

1-9 inch pie crust-get the pre-made at the store or make your own! 2 whole eggs 2 egg yolks 1 1/2 cup heavy cream 6 strips cooked bacon-cut up into smaller pieces 1/2 tsp salt, pinch of white pepper 3/4 cup grated imported swiss cheese (Emmenthaler works the best) 2 tbsp butter, slivered
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place crust in quiche dish, bake for about 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from from oven and allow to cool.
While that is cooling, beat together in large mixing bowl eggs, yolks, cream and seasoning. Stir in grated cheese. Scatter bacon bits over the surface of the pie crust. Gently ladle custard into crust. Sprinkle butter bits on top. Place in oven and cook for about 35-40 minutes or until a knife pulls cleanly from the center of the pie. Remove from oven, allow cool somewhat before serving hot, or let stand and cool completely to serve cold.
This dish takes 1 hour to prepare and cook.
serves 4-6

Modifications:
you can add spinach, diced onion, mushroom, a sprinkle of nutmeg, really anything you like. Leave the bacon out and just use spinach! That would be Quiche Lorraine! I have substituted the heavy cream for half and half. That is in the oven now, so the result will be forthcoming!
Be creative

Seared Ahi with Sauteed Mushrooms

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:35:52 -0700

4-4oz Ahi Tuna cuts 4 cups fresh baby spinach 4 cups sliced mushrooms 1 tbsp butter olive oil fresh cracked black pepper zest of orange fresh cut strawberries
place butter in heated pan to melt add in mushrooms and saute add in cracked black pepper to taste place cup of baby spinach onto each plate drizzle with olive oil Cover ahi tuna with cracked pepper on all sides place pepper covered tuna in same cooking pan as mushrooms and sear on all sides
place mushrooms onto spinach place tuna on mushrooms add fresh cut strawberries and orange zest
Total prep time: 15 minutes serves 4

Twice Grilled Peppers

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:20:22 -0800

Using one or a combination of Red/Yellow/Orange/Purple/Green Bell peppers:
Wash peppers and spritz with olive oil, rubbing to cover the entire skin
Place on open flame on gas stove top or outside grill Turn pepper as needed until all sides are blackened Remove from flame 
Under cold water, peel, cut and clean pepper. Tear into natural pieces drizzle pieces with olive oil place on hot stove top grill pan or outside grill grate grill both sides, spritzing with oil as needed When both sides have grill marks, remove and use.
NOTE: you can place these on a small plate, cover with seran and place in fridge to have on hand for use with pasta, fish, eggs, salads, or just for enjoying!

Wild Rice

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:01:12 -0800

This recipe is for side serving or stuffing 4 game hens. To prepare for 2, halve the amounts.
6 Tbsp butter 2/3 cup wild rice 4 Tbsp finely chopped red onion 4 Tbsp slivered almonds 2 Cup water 2 veggie bouillon cube (low sodium preferred) 2 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp salt 1 cup finely chopped mushroom 1/3 cup dried cranberries
In small sauce pan, add butter, melt. Add in rice, onion, and almonds. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Stir in water, bouillon, lemon juice and salt. Make sure bouillon is dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about an hour (this is wild rice!) Turn off heat. Stir in mushrooms and cranberries and then
Cover with lid, let set 10 minutes, serve. OR
Stuff game hens and cook in oven as indicated in game hen recipe.
Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 1 hr 10 min
Serves 4