Costa Rica

This is a ridiculous amount of photos, but there is just so much to love about Costa Rica, we had an absolutely marvelous time.  The flowers were gorgeous, not sure what this flower is, but we saw a lot of them.  Some of the trees were blooming with bright orange flowers and there were azaleas blooming everywhere.

Jicama-Ginger Slaw

Sense of Home Kitchen

Jicama-Ginger Slaw
~Sense of Home Kitchen, adapted from Bon Appétit, December 2000~

6 Servings

2 cups matchstick-size strips peeled jicama (about 8 ounces)
2 cups matchstick-size strips peeled carrots (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup matchstick-size strips green bell peppers, seeded
1/2 cup matchstick-size strips peeled (or organic, unpeeled) cucumber
1/4 cup matchstick-size strips peeled fresh ginger (from about one 2-ounce piece)
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons (packed) grated lemon peel

Toss jicama, carrots, green bell pepper, cucumber, fresh ginger, and fresh cilantro in a large bowl to combine.  Add rice vinegar to the slaw mixture.  Add sugar and lemon peel and stir to blend.  Season slaw to taste with salt and pepper.  Let stand at least 20 minutes and up to 2 hours, tossing occasionally.  Drain well before serving.


Sense of Home Kitchen / Recipes / Salads

Chicken and Vegetable Turnovers

Sense of Home Kitchen

Chicken and Vegetable Turnovers

~by Sense of Home Kitchen~

Any variation of chicken, turkey, beef, or pork along with vegetables of your choice in the following proportions will work in this recipe.  These "hot pockets" are perfect for taking to work for lunch if you have a microwave or toaster oven to heat them up.  The toaster oven will work best as it will keep the crust crisp, but a microwave will get them warm and they are still delicious.

 Makes 12 to 15

Filling

1/2 cup onion (about 1/2 of a large onion), diced

1 cup celery (about 2 stalks), diced

1 cup carrots (about 2 large), diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried and rubbed sage

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/4 cups milk

3 cups chicken, cooked and cubed or shredded

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Dough

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar

2 cups sour cream

In a large skillet sauté onion, celery and carrot in butter until tender, add garlic and dried herbs and sauté for one minute more, stirring occasionally.  Blend in flour, salt and pepper.  Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly until thickened.  Add chicken and parsley, stir, set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt, cut in butter until the mixture resembles course crumbs.  Stir in cheese.  Add sour cream, mixing until dough forms a ball.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out dough into a rectangle approximately 18-inches by 12-inches.  Cut, evenly, into 6 squares, approximately 6-inches each.  Place 1/3 cup of chicken filling on each square.  Fold to form a triangle, trimming as needed; seal edges by pressing down with a fork tines.  Cut slits in the top of the turnovers and place on a cookie sheet.  Repeat with 2nd half of dough.  Save any trimmed edges and roll out a couple extra squares.  Bake at 450° for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 400° and bake 5 to 8 minutes more or until golden brown.

May be baked, frozen, and reheated at 300°F. for 15 minutes, or microwaved if an oven is not available.

Sense of Home Kitchen / Recipes / Pastries / Poultry

Mexican Meatball Soup

Sense of Home Kitchen

Mexican Meatball Soup

~by Sense of Home Kitchen~

6 - 8 servings

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

3 cups chopped onion, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 small bay leaves

2 cups mustard greens, chopped

3 quarts homemade chicken stock or 6 14 1/2-ounce cans purchased chicken broth

1 quart home canned whole tomatoes or 1 28-ounce can whole or diced tomatoes in juice

1/2 cup home canned tomato salsa or purchased chunky tomato salsa (medium-hot)

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 pound lean ground beef

1/4 pound ground turkey

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup half and half cream

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup long-grain white or brown rice

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium-high heat.  Add 2 1/2 cups onions and sauté until translucent.  Add minced garlic cloves, bay leaves, and chopped mustard greens and sauté, stirring occasionally, until mustard greens have wilted.  Add chicken stock or broth, tomatoes, salsa, and fresh cilantro.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

While the broth simmers, combine ground beef, turkey, 1/2 cup of chopped onions, cornmeal, cream, egg, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, and garlic powder.  Mix well.  Shape meat mixture by generous tablespoonfuls into 1- to 1 1/4-inch balls.  Heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat and sauté meatballs, in batches, until browned, turning once.  Add the browned meatballs to the broth as they finish cooking.

Add white or brown rice to the broth and bring back to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 15 - 20 minutes, if using white rice or approximately 40 - 50 minutes, if using brown rice.  Cook until the rice is tender.  Enjoy!

Sense of Home Kitchen / Recipes / Soups