¼ cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS
In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup of the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the honey. Gently simmer over medium- low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by a little more than half, about 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and set aside.
While the balsamic reduces, arrange the chicken on a cutting board and stretch a large sheet of plastic wrap over the top. Lightly pound the chicken breasts into an even ½- inch thickness. Discard the plastic, then sprinkle the chicken with ¾ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper, seasoning both sides.
In a large, heavy- bottomed skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium- high heat. Once the oil is hot but not smoking, add the chicken breasts top- sides down, being careful of oil that may splatter. Let cook undisturbed for 4 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Flip and cook an additional 3 minutes. Check for doneness. The chicken should reach 165 degrees F at the thickest part when tested with an instant- read thermometer, and when sliced, the juices should run clear.
If it needs additional time, flip again and continue cooking for a few minutes on each side, until done. The total cooking time will vary depending upon the size of your chicken. Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm.
Without wiping out the pan, reduce the skillet heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, swirl to coat the pan, then add the red onion and let cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan as it cooks.
Add the garlic and let cook 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, thyme, and remaining 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat back to medium high and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
Return the chicken to the pan, nestling it into the tomatoes, and scatter the mozzarella throughout.
Cover the pan and remove from the heat. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the mozzarella to become soft and melty.
Uncover, drizzle the balsamic reduction over the top, and sprinkle with the fresh basil. Serve warm.
2 Jalapeño peppers OR 2 serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped (you can use whole for more heat if you want)
Salt to taste
DIRECTIONS
1 Remove papery husks from tomatillos and rinse well.
2a Oven Roasting Method Cut the tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Add a few garlic cloves in their skin (if using) Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skins of the tomatillos.
2b Pan Roasting Method Coat the bottom of a skillet with a little vegetable oil. Heat on high heat. Place the tomatillos in the pan and sear on one side, then flip over and brown on the other side. Remove from heat.
2c Boiling Method Place tomatillos in a saucepan, cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove tomatillos with a slotted spoon.
3 Pulse in blender: Place the cooked tomatillos, lime juice, onions, garlic (if using), cilantro, chili peppers in a blender or food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.
4 Season to taste with salt. Cool in refrigerator.
Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes.
Made this two nights ago and we ate EVERY bit of it as leftovers. That almost never happens.
InstaPot Roast
InstaPot Roast
★★★★★
Main Dish, Meats
Total Time: 3 hr
Source: The Rootitoot Cookbook, a grandma’s recipes for your Instapot
INGREDIENTS
2-4 lb cross rib, chuck or blade beef roast
1-2 tbsp olive or canola oil
1 1/2 cup onion in 1” dice
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 cups beef/chicken broth (or water)
(1-2 tbsp Beef Better than Bouillon – optional)
2-4 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp Worcester sauce
1 1/2 tbsp regular or balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cups potato chunks (about 1 1/2” pieces)
4 – 6 carrots, in 3” pieces
3 tbsp flour
1/2 cup water
DIRECTIONS
Pat the roast dry with paper towel and generously season with salt and pepper. Press Sauté on the Instant Pot and when the display says HOT, add the oil. Put the roast in and brown it well without moving it for 3 or 4 minutes. Then flip it and do the same on the other side. If you want, you can brown the sides, too. Browning it will produce a rich, beefy flavor. Then transfer it to a plate.
Add the onions and mushrooms and stir for a couple minutes. Add the garlic and press Cancel. Stir in the garlic as the pot cools down. Add celery and the broth (or water) and stir to deglaze the pan, scraping all brown bits off the bottom. Be sure to get ALL the bits up or you could end up with the “Burn” warning and your IP will shut off.
Add the tomato paste, if using, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, basil, thyme, bay leaves, brown sugar and salt and pepper.
Put the roast and any juices back in the pot. Close the lid and make sure the valve on the top is set to SEALING. Press Pressure Cook (or Manual) and sue the +/- buttons to get it to 50 minutes. Then, just walk away.
When it beeps that it’s done, leave it for 15-20 minutes natural release. Then flip the valve from Sealing to Venting and when the pin drops, open the pot and take a whiff, Delicious, right?
Remove the roast and cover it with foil. Throw away the bay leaves. Put the potato chunks and carrots in the pot and give them a stir. Close the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Press Pressure Cook (or Manual) and adjust the time to 5 minutes. While it’s cooking, mix the flour and water until completely smooth or shake it in a jar.
When it beeps that it’s done, press Cancel and flip the valve to Venting for quick release. When the pin drops, remove the lid.
Scoop out the vegetables in to a bowl and hit the Sauté button again. When it comes to a boil, add about half the flour/water slurry and stir to thicken. If you like it thicker, add more but keep in mind it will thicken as it cools.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and You. Are. Done.
Even though I live part-time in Georgia, I ALWAYS order peaches from Dickey Farms. For a few short weeks each year, they ship perfectly ripe DELICIOUS soft ball size peaches, to your door.
My FIRST recipe each year for peaches used to be cobbler, but this pie 🥧 recipe came along from the Peach Truck Cookbook.
You may have better luck than I did using the Peach Truck’s delivery service. It was the one year Dickey’s wasn’t shipping due to the season being so short. I was very disappointed by the condition of the peaches. Very bruised, which of course ruins the peach’s taste and texture.
So although I cannot recommend The Peach Truck’s shipping, I HIGHLY recommend their cookbook. Every recipe I’ve tried has been a winner!
Peach 🍑 Pie with Southern Baked Pies, pie server
Peach Pie
★★★★★
Desserts, Fresh Fruit, Fruit, Pie
INGREDIENTS
Millie’s CRUST:
3 cups all- purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups cubed cold vegetable shortening
5 tbsp ice water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 large egg
FILLING:
4 pounds fresh peaches, pitted and sliced (about 12 cups)
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
pinch of kosher salt
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
DESCRIPTION
Peach Pie adapted from the Peach Truck Cookbook
DIRECTIONS
1. To make the crust, sift together the flour, sugar, and salt into a medium bowl. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles large peas. Whisk together the ice water, vinegar, and egg in a small bowl. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir with a fork until just combined. Divide the dough in half; flatten each half into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Roll out one dough disk on a lightly floured surface to a round about 1/4 inch thick. Fit the dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Roll out the other dough disk to a round about 1/4 inch thick. Place the round of dough on the prepared baking sheet. Cut into 2 1/2 inch wide strips. Chill the dough while preparing the filling.
4. To make the filling, combine the peaches, the 1/2 cup sugar, the cornstarch , salt, lemon juice, and vanilla in large bowl.
5. Spoon the filling into the dough-lined plate. Arrange the pastry strips on the top of the pie in a lattice. Fold the edges under and crimp. Beat the egg and the 1 tbsp water together in a small bowl. Brush the egg lightly over the top crust. Sprinkle with the 1 tbsp sugar.
6. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place on the bottom rack of the oven (this is to catch any filling that bubbles over). Bake the pie on the center rack for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake 40 to 50 minutes more, until golden brown and bubbling, shielding the pie with a sheet of foil after 20 minutes if the crust is getting too brown. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours, before slicing and serving.
Lattice placed and ready to brush with the egg washLet cool 2 hours and serve
Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, sugar, pepper and bay leaves in a large stainless steel or enameled saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reuce heat and boil gently, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1.25 hours or until very thick. Press through a food mill or coarse sieve; remove and discard seeds and skins.
Add vinegar and salt to pulp.
Remove hot jars from canner and ladle sauce into jars to within 1/2 inch of rim (headspace). Process for 35 minutes for half-pint and pint jars as directed by your canning preferences. I use a Ball Electric Canner and on it you choose SAUCES and PROGRAM number 6.
One and a half hours of cooking, later …Using a food press to remove tomato seeds and skin …Into my Fresh Tech Electric Canner by Ball7 cups finished project
Serving suggestions:
Savory Seafood Sauce Stir together 1/2 cup Seasoned Tomato Sauce, 2 tbps each: lemon juice and prepared horseradish
Herbed Pizza Sauce Combine 1 cup Seasoned Tomato Sauce, 1/2 tsp each: dried oregano, dried basil and dried parsely and 1 clove crushed garlic.
How many times have you heard about a cure for Cancer, a cure for Diabetes, or even a cure for Autism? NONE of these, unfortunately, panned out but we got to hear about them. Got hopeful. Discussed them with our doctors. Tried one for Autism. And patiently waited for another breakthrough.
We don’t get that hope with the big tech censorship that’s in place.
We don’t hear from doctors treating patients outside of an ER if they mention a particular drug. A drug that HAS to be discussed and dispensed by your physician. A drug that has long term dose complications (for some) and a telephone book list of contraindications, for others.
Shutting down the DISCUSSION from doctors treating patients OUTSIDE an ER or HOSPITAL is what’s missing.
Shutting down other countries SUCCESS with a drug is making this political.
Pulling small dose studies that show strides in favor of large dose studies that harmed patients, is what’s hurting science.
I cannot post that a neighbor took #HCQ successfully without FB or Google or Twitter pulling it down.
A Peachy take on your Classic Grilled Cheese sandwich
Peach and Muenster on sourdough 🙌🏻if grilled cheese is served in heaven …
The Grilled Cheeserie’s Shaved Peach Melt
★★★★★
Quick & Easy, Sandwich
Servings: 1 Source: The Peach Truck Cookbook
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons pickled mustard seeds or whole grain mustard
1 teaspoon honey
3 slices English Farmstead Buttercup Cheese (2.5 ounces)
1/2 small peach, pitted and very thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
4 or 5 fresh basil leaves, torn
2 (1/2-inch-thick) slices bakery style bread
I Tablespoon salted butter
DIRECTIONS
1). Combine the mustard seeds and honey in a small bowl. Arrange the cheese slices, peach slices, and basil on one slice of the bread. Drizzle with the mustard mixture. Top with remaining bread slice.
2). Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwich; cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden and toasted and the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
The Grilled Cheeserie started as a food truck shortly before the Peach Truck. This melt is incredible with Buttercup cheese, a small-batch variety made in North Carolina, which Peach Truck gets from the Bloomy Rind in Nashville. If you can’t find Buttercup, use Muenster, or another cheese that melts easily.
I can’t keep up. I just can’t. I’m exhausted trying to figure out what we’re all supposed to do, believe, and be offended and outraged by next.
Two months ago, First Responders were all the rage. In fact, they were heroes. We gave them free coffee, meals, and cheers as they drove by. Today, we hate them and want them defunded because they can’t be trusted.
Two months ago, truck drivers were the heroes, as well, for keeping America moving and the grocery stores stocked. Today we block the roads with protesters, drag them out of the cabs and beat them half to death.
Just 45 days ago protests weren’t “essential” and were considered criminal, selfish and a murderous activity. Today they are gloriously critical and celebrated. All of the obvious criminal and murderous activities are simply ignored. If you protest about lock downs for freedom, you are selfish and you will spread a virus. If you protest, loot, and riot for social justice, you are a warrior and the virus fades to the background.
Trust the experts. No, not those experts. Don’t wear masks … wear masks, but only good ones. Wait, don’t wear masks, wear anything as a mask. Never mind on the masks. Not sure, but if you don’t, you hate people because you could be an asymptomatic spreader. Wait. That’s not a thing anymore?
For 3 months, NOTHING was more important than social distance. In fact, we gave up all of our liberties for it. We canceled schools, medical and dental procedures, yet allowed the murder of babies, canceled activities, closed businesses, eliminated every spring rite of passage from prom to graduation, denied people funerals, even at Arlington, and we wrecked the economy for it. Then came social justice, and social distance was no more. Now things are more cut and dried though. A thousand people at three memorials for someone they never even met. It’s a matter of “respect”. But you can only assemble 100 or less people.
I’m really confused now. Look at the data, NO, not that data. Do the math. No, you can’t do the math like that. Only the experts can understand the data and math. What do you mean other cities/states/governors are interpreting the data differently? Pools are safe in Indiana, but not Michigan? Playgrounds are safe in your town but not mine? Amusement parks are safe in Florida but not Ohio, nor Michigan.
If you are silent you are part of the problem. If you speak, you are part of the problem. If you have to ask, you don’t understand. If you don’t ask, you don’t care.
It’s all so predictable, tedious, and exhausting. Nothing adds up. It’s one gigantic Math life problem, with ever changing denominators that I’m sure the media and politicians are eagerly ready to solve for us…until the next “crisis”.
Talk2USoon 