I am a foodie. I love different flavors, so when my husband arrived to the United States, I was excited to share with him all the flavors of California. He didn't like my food at first. I tried recipe after recipe for him, and night after night the response was mediocre at best. I soon tired of cooking food that went to waste because he didn't like it. I stopped cooking and I love to cook. But cooking is no fun when there isn't any enjoyment when it is eaten. After about 3 years of marriage, he began to experiment with food. He started trying different items and became willing to eat things he had never eaten. AND, he started to like food. Yay- and with that, I started to cook again. Now, he always asks me, "When did you learn to cook?" As if this is a new thing for me. My answer- "It isn't when did I learn to cook, it is when did you learn to eat?" This blog is a collection of recipes that I have created. I make new things all the time, but I don't write anything down and then I either forget that I made it, or I forget how to make it. I don't know if anyone is out there that will read this- but if you do, I hope you enjoy trying my recipes. Buen Provecho!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Roasted Bell Pepper Salad

Green bell peppers were on sale so I used red and green. If red bell peppers aren't too expensive, you can use two red bell peppers.
You will need
2 Bell Peppers
Onion
Red wine vinegar
Oil
Avocado
Salt and pepper
Place washed bell peppers on the burners of a gas stove and blacken. Keep turning them until they are black. Rinse and peel off the blackened portion. Cut into slices. Slice Onion and avocado. Mix Oil and vinegar. Toss together and add salt and pepper to taste.

Boliche Mechado

Boliche Mechado is a Cuban Pot Roast with Spanish Chorizo. I had it the other night when we went to a really yummy Cuban restaurant the other night in Downey and had this dish. It was so good and I thought, I need to figure out how to make it. So, today I tried it and it was really yummy. It wasn't the same, but, it was good none the less... and my husband liked it. That is the real test.
I used a cut that was labeled Pot Roast. What kind of cut exactly, I'm not sure.
You will need:
Pot Roast
Crushed Garlic
Lime juice
tomato sauce
beef broth
cumin
oregano
bay leaves
red wine
salt
onion
Potato
bell pepper (1 red, 1 green)
Smear crushed garlic on the beef and pour a little lime juice (both sides)
Let it marinate for about 30 minutes. Generously cover with cumin.
Puree the bell peppers and onions in a food processor to make sofrito
Cut beef into strips and add salt.
Heat oil in the bottom of the pot and brown the beef (be careful not to let the garlic burn). Cut the chorizo into slices (on an angle) and saute in the pan. Add beef broth, tomato sauce, red wine, and the sofrito cover the meat completely. Add oregano and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for about two hours. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and add to the pot. Add more beef broth if needed to make sure the potatoes are completely covered in liquid. Raise the temperature and bring to a boil. Reduce the temperature and continue to cook until the potatoes are fully cooked.
Serve over rice.